Get on your bike, Government tells 160,000 workers
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Tuesday April 21 2009
JUST 2pc, or 69,000 people, out of the adult population of 3.45 million cycle to work, but the the Government wants to see a minimum of 160,000 people on their bikes by 2020.
In addition, any town with a population of more than 100,000 will have a publicly-funded bike rental scheme in place to help shift people out of the car and onto two wheels under an ambitious plan launched yesterday.
The National Cycling Policy Framework also calls for safe cycle routes to be introduced to schools, safe cycling skills to be taught to 140,000 children in classrooms and better bike parking facilities.
The Government has also promised that by 2020 it will increase the number of cycle lanes across the country, ensure that trains and buses carry bikes as standard and introduce a new approach to the design of urban roads to better recognise the needs of cyclists and pedestrians.
The policy comes because of the low number of people in towns and cities who use the bike as a primary means of transport.
In 1986, 7pc of all trips to work in Ireland were made by bike. By 2006 that figure had fallen to just over 2pc. Some 23,600 primary school children travelled to school on bike in 1986 which fell to just 4,100 in 2006.
Awareness
Up to 145,000 people drive 4km or less to work in Dublin, and the cycling policy is designed to help provide safe routes and get people out of the car.
The plan includes 109 targets to be delivered by 2020 and National Bike Week will run from June 14 to highlight awareness.
Major road junctions will be retrofitted in cities and towns to make them cycle-friendly, while cycling demonstration towns would be developed to show best practice in designing cycle-friendly facilities and road networks.
In Dublin, €3m will be provided to build more cycle routes, while work on the long-awaited Sutton to Sandycove cycle route will begin. The council will also introduce its planned Bike Rental Scheme.
"Cyclists matter," Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said. "Just like other road users they deserve a safer, easier travelling experience and that's what I want to deliver through the 109 individual actions set out in this Ireland's First National Cycle Policy.
"We are all familiar with the hassle of lengthening journey times and traffic congestion as well as the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.
"Equally we are aware of the health benefits of pursuing more active lifestyles. That's why a return to the bike can make very real sense."
The Green Party said that close co-operation was needed by all agencies to realise the vision, while Labour's Tommy Broughan said the scheme was welcomed but it was "disappointing" that so many actions were "vague aspirations".
- Paul Melia
