Cycling looks like it is on the cusp of a new era in the Republic, if the proposed new Government gets into office and then keeps it promises.
The proposed programme for Government – between Fianna
Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party – has been formulate and published but the
members all three parties must now agree to form that Government.
Each party has different rules for deciding on going into
coalition, with the Green Party’s process the most arduous; all party members
permitted to vote and a two thirds majority in favour of going into office
required.
That will all be decided by the three parties in coming
days and the Republic could have a new Government by this weekend.
The programme for Government puts spending on cycling and
walking on a different level to anything ever seen before in Ireland. The plans
for cycling, in money terms, are staggering.
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At present about two per cent of the State’s capital
transport spend goes to cycling. But under the programme for Government this is
to be increased to 10 per cent, and a further 10 per cent will go towards
walking infrastructure.
The money amounts to almost €1 million per day; some €360
million per year over the proposed five-year term of the next Government, if it
serves a full term.
Rather than go through the programme for Government, we have decided to reproduce the section on cycling, below, with some additional notes at the end.
Many groups have been campaigning for years, Dublin
Cycling Campaign and Cyclist.ie among them. But also others who have worked
tirelessly to constantly beat the drum for cycling; irishcycle.com being one.
Phil Skelton of Stayin’ Alive at 1.5 and as well as Fine Gael’s Ciaran Cannon TD and Regina Doherty TD, who pushed the 1.5 agenda, also deserve significant credit; as does the Green Party.
The following are the commitments on cycling in the programme for government; this section reproduced in full from the published programme.
Cycling and Walking
Cycling and electric cycling have enormous potential to facilitate a high proportion of daily trips if we provide an environment which protects and prioritises this mode of transport. We will promote cycling and pedestrian safety and enable this through improved design, increased separation and better signage and marking.
The Government will commit to an allocation of 10% of the total transport capital budget for cycling projects and an allocation of 10% of the total capital budget for pedestrian infrastructure. The Government’s commitment to cycling and pedestrian projects will be set at 20% of the 2020 capital budget (€360 million) per year for the lifetime of the Government.
This commitment will deliver a five-year, multi-annual funding programme linked with a specific target of new separated cycling and walking infrastructure which will be delivered or under construction by end 2024. This will enable a step change in the number of people taking daily journeys by foot and bicycle which will help improve quality of life and air quality.
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The total spend on walking and cycling infrastructure includes committed funding from Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for active travel, greenways and an agreed pedestrian and cycling allocation from the Bus Connects programme.
Additional funding to meet the annual ceiling will be provided through the Recovery Fund with a focus on jobs-intensive infrastructure.
This funding will be subject to the normal rules in relation to the carry forward of capital funding.
In addition to this expenditure commitment we will undertake other measures to help enable the continued increase in the numbers of people walking and cycling each day.
We will:
- Mandate that every local authority, with assistance from the National Transport Authority (NTA), adopts a high-quality cycling policy, carries out an assessment of their roads network and develops cycle network plans which will be implemented with the help of a suitably qualified Cycling Officer with clear powers and role.
- Expand and enhance the expertise on active travel needed to dramatically improve infrastructure and participation both in the NTA and local authorities, including by establishing Regional Cycle Design Offices, co-located in the seven Regional Design Offices for roads, to support local authorities.
- Dramatically increase the number of children walking and cycling to primary and secondary school by mandating the Department of Transport to work with schools across Ireland, local authorities, the Green Schools programme and local initiatives, including Cycle Bus and School Streets.
- Widen the eligibility of the Bike to Work scheme. We will provide an increased proportionate allowance for e-bikes and cargo bikes.
- Ramp up the Cycle Right programme to ensure that all children are offered cycling training in primary school.
- Conduct a review of road traffic policy and legislation to prioritise the safety of walking and cycling.
Greenways
We will lead the development of an integrated national greenways strategy. This has the potential to transform modal shift, improve air quality and public health.
This commitment to cycling will enable us to achieve the huge ambition of developing an integrated national network of greenways to be used by commuters, leisure cyclists and tourists. We will continue the coordinated approach between central government, local authorities and agencies to deliver on this ambition.
Under the section on ‘public transport’ the NTA is to be asked to produce a park and ride implementation plan for each of the five cities to help reduce congestion and journey times, including adding facilities for cyclists.
“These (park and rides) will integrate car parking facilities with public transport and cycling networks and will include the provision of secure lockers for bicycles,” the programme for Government states.
Under the section on ‘railways’ there is a commitment to “improve cycling and storage facilities at stations and on trains, where possible”.
As well as the above section taken directly from the programme for Government cycling section, there are also other references to cycling in the document.
Under the ‘sport’ heading, the proposed new government pledges to “take action to encourage and promote people’s personal health, wellbeing and physical activity”.
The document adds: “Sport and physical activity is
central to that. During the pandemic, it was clear that running, cycling and
walking became increasingly popular as people wanted to mind their physical and
mental health. We will build on this.
“We will ensure that our interventions in sport
complement our efforts to increase active travel and to improve public health
and wellbeing.”
It adds in a more specific promise that the Government will “place a strong emphasis on swimming, cycling, walking and running, which are especially suitable for all generations”.
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