Irish Cycling Campaign has compiled our Top Asks for Local Election 2024 Candidates – as presented below.

Firstly though, we are reminding LE candidates from all parties that cycling is one of our most democratic, affordable and accessible means of transport. Cycling is a reliable mode for people at all income levels, especially those who struggle with economic uncertainty and rising energy costs. Cycling gives people an opportunity to stay healthy, which in turn saves society many millions of Euro in healthcare costs. More people cycling means cleaner air, a more rapid decarbonisation of the transport sector, less congested streets, and safer neighbourhoods.

Additionally, it is crucial that at a central government level, at least 20% of capital transport spending must continue to go on active travel, and that the vast majority of the rest is spent on radically improving our public transport systems.  

At a local government level, these are our asks:

1. Higher sustainable transport targets 
2. Rapid advancement of Cycle Networks 
3. Advancing School Streets and Safe Routes to School 
4. Higher quality cycle facilities 
5. Upskilling of Local Authority staff and Councillors 
6. Default 30km/h speed limits in built-up areas
7. Development plans to prioritise
   – Land use planning that prevents car-dependent sprawl
   – Proper permeability and connectivity
   – Mandatory bike parking at new developments 
   – Maximum, not minimum, numbers of car parking spaces
   – Encouraging car share 
8. Plans below Development Plan level mirroring the above
9. Supporting voices from cycling advocacy to be on Council Committees 
10. Enforcement of illegal car parking dealt with effectively 
11. Imaginative promotion of everyday cycling for multiple journey types
12. Auditing and maintaining all sustainable transport facilities to high standards

Note:
(1) Local Groups within Irish Cycling Campaign will be adding bespoke local asks for local candidates to this list.
(2) An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland (https://www.antaisce.org/) also endorses our 12 listed asks.

A list with elaborated points can be read below. 

1. Higher cycling, walking and public transport (modal share) targets – i.e. fewer journeys made by private motor cars (since EVs alone won’t bring us to the decarbonisation targets). 
2. The implementation of the ‘Cycle Connects’ cycle networks and the metropolitan cycle network plans for Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and the Greater Dublin Area. 
3. Roll-out of school streets and Safe Routes to School interventions (including cycle parking). 
4. Higher quality cycle facilities (i.e. not compromised at pinch points and junctions etc. and generally following the Cycle Design Manual) and smarter use of contra-flow and modal filters
5. Upskilling of Local Authority staff and Councillors through CPD programmes and taking part in study trips to the Netherlands / Denmark, and attending the Velo-city conference, so that we end up with higher standards and better facilities etc. 
6. Adoption of 30km/h default limits on built-up roads (to follow from new legislation)
7. Development plan issues
   – Land use planning which encourages walking, cycling and public transport use and prevents car-dependent sprawl
   – Proper permeability and connectivity
   – Mandatory bike parking at new developments – apartments, shops, PT hubs / Higher Bike Parking standards (both numbers and quality of facilities) at various public locations (town centres, sports grounds, churches, gyms, hospitals, apartments etc.
   – Maximum, not minimum, numbers of car parking spaces (Cf. DHLG&H guidelines)
   – Encouraging car share (e.g. with dedicated car share spaces in new developments) 
8. Plans below Development Plan level to mirror the above (e.g. Local Area Plans and Local Economic Community Plan (LECP))
9. LE Candidates to support voices from cycling advocacy within council committees and structures (e.g. Strategic Policy Committees, Joint Policing Committees and Road Safety Working Together Groups)
10. Enforcement of illegal car parking dealt with effectively (by a combination of Council wardens and contractors – plus An Garda Síochána) – and designing out possibilities for offending. 
11. Imaginative and ongoing promotion of everyday cycling for multiple journey trips (just not commuting) and intermodal journeying (particularly bikes plus public transport)
12. Auditing and maintaining all walking and cycling and public transport facilities to high standards. Ensure ongoing budgets for maintenance e.g. buying specific maintenance plant/ machines
    
    Note:
    Our 10 Asks ahead of General Election 2020 can be read here https://cyclist.ie/2020/10/cyclist-ie-10-asks-budget-2021/.

Image credit: Julien Douvier

From his tenure as Minister for Transport, to his participation in Dublin City Triathlon, Leo Varadkar’s relationship with cycling has shifted gears through the years. But what does the future hold for cycling in Ireland with a new Taoiseach, and for Leo himself?

Continue reading The Cycle of Politics →

There was a very heartening event last week.

Established professional body Engineers Ireland hosted a progressive, forward-looking conference aimed at informing their members – civil and structural engineers especially – about Ireland’s current surge towards more sustainable, healthy transport.

(Below) Can Ginty compares modal share over distance in Netherlands

While the provision of safe, segregated infrastructure is definitely an engineering problem, Ireland faces several other barriers in reducing car dependence and GHG emissions from transport. It was great to see presentations on policy, on transport funding, and on simply walking.

It was really inspiring and encouraging to see everyone from Finola O’Driscoll of the NTA through experts Professor Brian Caulfield and Dr. Lorraine d’Arcy, and even Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, to outstanding cycling advocate Cian Ginty all agreeing on how we need to shift modes of transport to healthier, cleaner, cheaper forms.

Denise Keogan gave the Department of Transport’s overview – to halve CO2 emissions by 2030 (compared to 2018 levels) we’ll need to double active travel rates. Progress is good but, according to Prof. Caulfield of TCD, our focus on electric cars is misplaced and we need to ramp up efforts dramatically if we’re to get near our targets.

(Above) Denise Keogan outlines Government policies

A few of the highlights we took away were… 

• 50% GHG reduction by 2030 is a big … big ask. But we’re making real progress: Rural Link is only one of several strong initiatives

• Gender audits should be part of every plan and proposal

• Cycle parking in train stations is way cheaper than giving space for bikes on trains (lesson from the Netherlands)

• 35% of road GHG’s is from National roads

• Cycling will only do the ‘heavy lifting’ of modal shift in denser, urban areas

• Donald Shoup’s seminal resaerch on parking is worth a read.