The Dublin bike rental scheme is widely credited with changing people’s attitudes towards cycling
The numbers of cyclists in Dublin doubled in the ten-year period to 2012 while car journeys over the same decade appear to have peaked and are now in decline in the city.
These are some of the key findings from Dublin City Council’s ‘Canal Cordon Count’, the results of which have been presented to the council’s Transport & Traffic Committee.
Dublin City Council counts all vehicles at 32 locations entering the streets bordering the city’s canals in November between 7am and 10am. Each person’s mode of transport is recorded during the count every year, offering an insight into transport and lifestyle trends over a long number of years.
Some of the key findings in 2012 were:
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- An increase of 15.6 per cent in cyclists in 2012.
- Cycle numbers doubled between 2004 and 2012.
- The figure for pedestrians was up by 17.3 per cent in 2012.
- Goods vehicles were down 6.5 per cent in 2012.
- Private car journeys decreased by 0.2 per cent. In 2012.
The roll out of the Dublin Bike Scheme during the ten-year period to 2012 is credited with making cycling more popular in the city but also with changing the culture into one where cycling is seen as mainstream and has become fashionable. The national cycle to work scheme, under which tax breaks are available for those buying bikes to commute to work, has also significantly influenced the latest trends. And the increased price of fuel for cars, as well as parking charges, has made car-based commuting much less attractive, particularly as disposable incomes have been hit hard in the recession.
Dublin City Council said it believes some of the initiatives it has rolled out in recent years have influenced the move towards cycling in the city.
“I’m pleased to see more people getting around the city the easiest and quickest way – on their bikes. Dublin City Council’s efforts to promote cycling are paying off and we have to encourage even more people to get on their bikes in 2013,” said Cllr Andrew Montague who chairs the Transport and Traffic committee.
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Dublin City Council welcomed the results saying they show evidence that commuters are using a range of commuting options. The results, it said, also point to the success of the many transport initiatives Dublin City Council has implemented. These include Dublin Port Tunnel, the HGV management strategy, more Quality Bus Corridors, the Dublin bikes scheme, the Grand Canal Cycle route and the 30 kph zone in the city centre.
Ten year trends at a glance
Cyclists
- Increased by 68.5 per cent between 2002 and 2012 to 7,943 journeys.
- Up 39.9 per cent from 2007 and 2012.
- Now 8.8 per cent of all journeys.
Private cars
- A decrease of 7.7% between 2002 and 2012.
- Total car journeys in 2012: 60,620. Now 67.5% of all journeys.
Goods vehicles
- Down 61.1% over a ten year period to 1,099 journeys in 2012. Now 1.2% of all journeys.
Motor cyclists
- Decreased by 51.2% between 2002 and 2012, down 4% in 2012 to 1,425.
Pedestrians
- Up 2.8% between 2002 and 2012. Now 19.03% of all journeys.
Buses
- Increased by 2.5% in the ten-year period.
- Dublin Bus journeys were down 10.2% in that time and private buses were up by 17.8%
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