Cyclist.ie – The Irish Cycling Advocacy Network, in collaboration with An Taisce and Dublin Cycling Campaign has made a detailed submission on the NTA proposals to build a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line from Swords to the City Centre.
Cyclist.ie in Brussels for the “Cycling for Growth” Roundtable
Cyclist.ie – the member for Ireland of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) attended the “Cycling for Growth” round-table seminar in Brussels yesterday (Invitation here) . Damien Ó Tuama, National Cycling Coordinator made the trip over on behalf of Irish cyclists. The event was organised by ECF to mark the publication of three new studies demonstrating how cycling is good for the economy and job creation.
The studies recommended three main points:
- We need more investment in cycling, stimulated by EU subsidies for cycling measures
- We need to integrate cycling into growth plans
- We need to improve fiscal benefits for cyclists.
On this last point, we learned the astonishing statistic that, on an EU basis, tax subsidies for company cars lead to direct government revenue losses of €54 billion according to a paper published by the European Commission. ECF and Cyclist.ie strongly recommend that we need a level playing field for all modes of transport throughout Europe, including those that have a positive impact on public health and the environment.
According to the ECF report “Jobs and job creation in the European cycling sector”, there are more than 650,000 full-time jobs linked to cycling today in Europe. This number is estimated to increase up to 1 million jobs by 2020 if cycling modal share doubles, as ECF vision supports.
More details on the studies can be found on the ECF website
Finally, while Brussels itself – and the “EU quarter” in particular – is still a long way off what you might call bicycle friendly, it is great to know that the European Cyclists’ Federation is lobbying at the highest levels so as to centre the bicycle in transport policy … just as Cyclist.ie is doing in an Irish context.
Submission on Road Traffic (Speed Limits) County of Fingal
Dublin Cycling Campaign would like to support the expansion of the number of roads in Fingal with lower speed limits, as proposed in the revised bye-laws. In due course, it may be appropriate to raise the speed limit on a small number of other roads. Read full submission.
Invitation to ECF round-table on cycling promotion
Dear MEP
I am writing to you in your position as MEP representing a constituency for Ireland.
With unprecedented levels of overweight/obesity in our society among young people everyday cycling is a major public health-related activity, and of interest to many people in your EU constituency, particularly in relation to Greenway development. ‘Cyclist.ie – The Irish Cycling Advocacy Network – would like to invite you to register to participate with other MEPs and the new Transport Commissioner in the first round-table of the ‘Cycling Forum Europe’, which takes place in Brussels next Thursday 4th December.
Cyclist.ie is the member for Ireland of The European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), which invites you to take part in a high-level round-table on ‘Cycling For Growth’ on Thursday 4th December from 13:30 to 17:00 h. More information.
Continue reading Invitation to ECF round-table on cycling promotion
UK Cycling Delivery Plan
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport could usefully reflect on this report when undertaking its review of the NCPF under way at present; the following is taken directly from the document:
In forming a partnership with government, we would expect local authorities to:
- Set a clear and specific vision for their area which outlines how cycling and walking will be increased and supported in a defined area over a defined period;
- Develop a local walking and cycling delivery plan, supported by their own local partners such as voluntary sector organisations;
- Appoint an influential cycling and walking champion locally, be that an elected member, supported by senior officer or a key public figure;
- Demonstrate a commitment to door-to-door journeys, and to creating safe cycling and walking provision through cycle proofing and pedestrian proofing new transport infrastructure and, where relevant, a planned and funded cycling and walking investment programme;
- Demonstrate that their walking and cycling plans include steps to meet the needs of people from hard to reach groups – including disabled people, older people and others whose needs may differ.
Collaborations with Colleagues in the UK: CycleNation, CTC and The London Cycling Campaign
Irish campaigners were well represented at the annual conference of Cyclenation UK and CTC held in London at the weekend. The event was hosted by London Cycling Campaign in Lambeth Town Hall. The Irish contingent was made up of Dr. Mike McKillen (Chair of Cyclist.ie), Damien Ó Tuama (National Cycling Coordinator, Cyclist.ie/An Taisce), Michael McKenna (Cyclist.ie & Skerries Cycling Initiative), Alita Rivera (Dublin Cycling Campaign) and David O’Brien.
There were over 100 delegates and over 10 speakers on the line-up which included the CEO’s of the three organising bodies as well as engineers, urban-designers, politicians and academics.
While the accents differed a little, the issues faced across the water are exactly the same: bicycle users still rank way down the priority list in England, Scotland and Wales. Many roads are dominated by heavy goods vehicles, buses and cars with cyclists given the bread-crumbs at the table. Far too many motorised vehicles are giving far too little space to cyclists. However, change does appear to be afoot, in London particularly, as the Mayor plans a new generation of cycle superhighways and many of the largest companies are London strongly supporting plans as Chris Keynon from Cycling Works explained. Meanwhile CycleNation UK has published Making Space for Cycling and this sets out to explain to local authorities what existing and future cyclists really need. Furthermore, and similarly to Ireland, we heard that new cycle design guidance has recently been published in Wales and the new London Cycle Design Standards are due out soon. This should mean that the standards for providing for cyclists will improve.
All in all, there are some positive signs that transport planning in the UK is changing so as to recognise the massive public health and economic benefits that accrue when cycling is taken seriously. Like Ireland though, it is still decades behind the more progressive Continental cities in terms of taming the car and making towns and cities liveable for all.
By travelling to these conferences, we forge stronger links with UK cycle campaigning organisations and bring home good ideas that can help us in our work of transforming Irish towns and cities to become really bicycle friendly. Keep in touch with us in Cyclist.ie as we look ahead to the Velo-city Cycling Planning Conference taking place in Nantes in June. We have already started discussions with our colleagues in CycleNation about cycling from Cherbourg to Nantes en masse! Watch this space.
Bicycle Strategy for Northern Ireland – Cyclist.ie Submission
Cyclist.ie review of the NI Draft Bicycle Strategy
The Bicycle Strategy will be followed up by “a Bicycle Strategy Delivery Plan” which will outline specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound objectives, policies and actions.” Overall the draft Strategy includes some valuable points but we stressed in our submission that it is essential that the final Plan will include funding commitments as well. Otherwise the strategy is meaningless.
Some other key points we made were as follows:
- The current spend on cycling in NI is very close to nothing. The public expenditure on NI roads for the year 2013-14 was £436M and less than 0.25% of this was spent on cycling infrastructure.
- The road network (barring motorways) is there for everyone to use and it needs to be tamed so as to be safe and attractive for bicycles. It is utterly iniquitous that the existing road network is perceived to be hostile for cycling for all but the most battle-hardened cyclists!
- It is crucial that driving training instructors and the PSNI fully understand the nature of cycling and correct road positioning, and can communicate that message to their trainees and officers, respectively. This is explained well in film by the Bicycle Association as reported on in the media just last week
- The draft strategy needs to be much more ambitious in regard to seeking to make all built up areas traffic calmed, and safe and attractive for bicycle users of all ages (i.e. 8 to 80) and abilities. Unless there is a serious shift in policy towards making places liveable and attractive and “inviting for all” by reducing speeds on a widespread basis, there will be no cyclists left on Northern Irish roads!
Improvements to cycle and public transport access to Cork Station
Millions of euro in funding is to be spent improving accessibility between Kent Station and the city centre; construction on the project commenced summer 2014. Iarnród Éireann had been seeking to enhance the existing facilities at the Cork train station, with plans to develop the North Docks with an entrance building accessed from Horgan’s Quay. Now €2.9m in funding, administered by the National Transport Authority, is to be spent on the new entrance and bus, cycle and access arrangements to improve connections to the city. Read article
- Easier access to railway station and more cycle routes proposed
- Irish Examiner: Kent station revamp – public transport plan and Facelift planned for Cork’s Kent Station
- Cork Green Routes background
- Some objections (parking!)
- Campaign on behalf of Cork Cyclists
- Sent in their own submission on the proposal for this project
- Meet first wednesday of every month at 7pm in the Bodega, Coalquay, Cork.
Garda report highlights cyclist’s concerns over under-reporting of accidents
The Garda Inspectorate Report on Crime Investigation, 2014 gives credence to cyclists concerns about how road traffic collisions involving motorised vehicles impacting with cyclists are handled by An Garda.
The Bedford Report for the HSE in 2011 showed that only approximately 10% of serious injuries (with hospital admission to a bed) incurred by cyclists in road traffic collisions were recorded by Garda.
The GI Report doesn’t mince its words: “This inspection has identified several deficiencies in recording practices, supervision and governance over recorded crime and the level of recorded detections for those crimes. The veracity of crime recording in Ireland must be addressed immediately. It is for this reason that the Inspectorate is making substantial recommendations to get it right from the first contact with a victim reporting a crime and through every stage of the investigative process”.
If a cyclist is knocked off his/her bike from impact with a motorised vehicle that is a potential criminal offence if serious injury results. Cyclists expect all such RTCs to be properly and fully investigated and recorded with appropriate follow-up. That clearly is not happening at present. Acute hospitals need to document all admission cases arising from cyclist RTCs and inform the Gardai of them.
The Departments of Transport, Justice and Health and the Road Safety Authority need to ensure that this scandal ends. It is an action from the NCPF since 2009. No sign of urgency so far.
Analysis of accident data and safety issues (abstract only)
The coco-cola zero bikes are coming to Galway, Cork and Limerick
11th November 2014 – The National Transport Authority has today announced further details for the Coca-Cola Zero Bikes regional scheme which will go live over the coming weeks. Galway will launch on Monday 24th November, followed by Limerick on 8th December and Cork on 18th December.
The National Transport Authority is also calling on the people of Galway, Limerick and Cork to pre-register now on www.bikeshare.ie so that the bikes can be availed of as soon as they are live on the streets.
Customers who pre-register will also get a 50% discount, receiving a special offer of €5 for annual subscription. This special offer extends to the end of 2014. When a customer registers for an annual subscription, they will receive a Welcome Pack in the post containing details of the scheme and a subscription card.
Gerry Murphy, CEO of the National Transport Authority said: “We’re delighted to announce that the Coca-Cola Zero Bikes scheme will go live in Galway on November 24th. The bikes will be an exciting new addition to the cities of Limerick, Cork and Galway for business and recreational users alike. We urge anyone interested in using the bikes in any of the three cities to take advantage of the special 50% discount offer by registering now at www.bikeshare.ie.”