Dublin, 26 August 2022 - Dublin Cycling Campaign broadly welcomes the direction from the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, to local authorities, requiring them to implement “quick win” infrastructure for cycling and walking projects.

Reports that local authorities - including the four Dublin local authorities - have significantly underspent the monies allocated to them for improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure are deeply concerning.

The figures released show that over half of the allocated funds were unspent in 2021, with less than 5% of the budget spent in 2022 to date.

Dublin Cycling Campaign’s Vice-Chair, Joan O’Connell said: “With the pressing need for prioritising the safety of people walking and cycling road safety, together with the very real impacts of climate collapse, the urgency for full and proper investment in safe and accessible infrastructure has never been greater.

“Dublin Cycling Campaign urges the four Dublin local authorities to move much more quickly to ensure that they each have full and fully-resourced Active Travel Teams in place. Each Council must also ensure that these Teams are encouraged and facilitated in working in accordance with best international practice.”

O’Connell added: “We can see the proven benefits of high quality infrastructure, such as the Coastal Mobility Route in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and welcome the long-awaited schemes such as the Clontarf to City Centre project.

“We also know from the NTA’s Bike Life report that untapped demand is there for people who want to cycle, but who don’t feel that it is safe enough to do so.

“As can be seen from examples here at home and abroad, when proper investment is made in safe infrastructure for all, cycling and walking becomes attractive and popular with many more people for whom it’s an option, among both disabled and able people, including children, older people, new communities, women and more.”

Note:

• A copy of the available figures for Dublin is available as a spreadsheet here.

• The source for these figures is IrishCycle.com.

Image credit: Yan Bourke / Dublin Cycling Campaign (Flickr).