Cyclist.ie – a Leading National Cycling Advocacy Group in Europe!
2014 has been a great year for Cyclist.ie. Soon after hosting the Annual Conference & European Cyclists’ Federation AGM, we received the fabulous news that we were successful with our funding application to the ECF Leadership Programme. This means that Cyclist.ie is recognised as one of the most effective national cycling lobby groups in Europe. We are succeeding in bringing the bicycle in from the margins of national and local transport policy.
The funding has been used to create the post of National Cycling Coordinator which has been filled by Damien Ó Tuama, a transport consultant and researcher working in the area of cycling planning for over 20 years. Ireland’s largest environmental organisation, An Taisce, have come on board as a strategic partner providing valuable office space and support, while some of the key players amongst the Irish cycle Importers are now also on board.
Damien’s work includes responding to statutory consultation processes around the planning of greenways, cycleways and other transport schemes affecting cyclists. This work connects directly with the development of the EuroVelo routes in Ireland – EV1 is the Atlantic Coast Route and EV2 is the Capitals Route running from Galway to Moscow! Cyclist.ie, the member for Ireland of the ECF, is a lead partner in Ireland’s Euro-Velo Coordination Centre and is reshaping government agencies’ approaches to providing for cycling.
The other work of the National Cycling Coordinator is focused on political lobbying: continually working to ensure that Irish politicians and senior officials recognise the value that cycling offers for public health goals, for de-congesting cities and for reducing emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels.
For more information on this work, Contact the National Cycling Coordinator or call +353-87-2840799