Skip to main content
Normal View

Cycling Facilities Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2018

Thursday, 15 February 2018

Questions (89)

Robert Troy

Question:

89. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether there is sufficient investment in cycling infrastructure; his further views on whether cycling infrastructure is sufficiently well developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7746/18]

View answer

Written answers

My Department fully supports the provision of safe and direct cycling infrastructure, in line with Smarter Travel and the National Cycle Policy Framework. Whilst significant investment has been undertaken in recent years in cycling infrastructure, I firmly believe that further continued investment is required to ensure cycling is seen as a safe and attractive option for cyclists of all ages. Investment in cycling infrastructure has a key role to play and in this regard, I was delighted to have secured, as part of Budget 2018, a significant increase in the level of Exchequer capital funding available for investment in cycling infrastructure over the period 2018-2021.

Capital investment of over €110m will develop cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and Regional Cities over the next four years (2018-2021). This programme will provide safe, alternative, active, travel routes to help alleviate congestion by providing viable alternatives and connectivity with existing public transport infrastructure.

My Department is also currently preparing a National Greenways Strategy, building on the success of facilities such as the Great Western Greenway and the Waterford Greenway. Budget 2018 saw an increase of €30 million in the multi-annual allocation for Greenways bringing the total allocation for the development of Greenways for the period 2018-2021 to over €55 million.

In addition to these cycling-specific investments, some other infrastructure investments over the next four years will provide enhancements that will benefit cyclists. The considerable investment of about three-quarters of a billion euro for re-configuring the bus network and infrastructure will also entail construction of significant new cycling facilities alongside bus routes on the key radial routes into the city centre and provide safe cycling arrangements, largely segregated from other traffic along those corridors. In addition, some of the €135m funding that will be provided to local authorities in the GDA and the Regional Cities for Sustainable Urban Transport between 2018 and 2021 will support better traffic management, bus priority measures and pedestrian infrastructure - which will benefit the safe and effective movement of all.

My Department continues to be very active in promoting behavioural change to encourage more people to take up cycling and to cycle safely. We provide funding to the NTA on an annual basis for the delivery of behavioural change programmes such as Workplace and Campus travel programmes and the Green Schools Programmes. Furthermore, my Department engaged Cycling Ireland to develop a new national cycle training standard - "Cycle Right" – which was rolled out in January 2017 to approximately 15,000 primary school students. My Department supports the great work that is being done by RSA in the promotion of safe roads for all road users, including the more vulnerable users such as cyclists and pedestrians. In addition my Department provides funding to local authorities throughout the country to assist in organising events and activities during Bike Week which further serve to increase the number of cyclists on our roads.

As part of an overall coordinated approach to the provision of an integrated sustainable transport network of cycling, walking and public transport, these various investments will allow us to further increase the numbers cycling, thereby easing congestion, improving public health and enhancing the liveability of our towns and cities; the investment will, I believe, have a lasting transformative effect on our transport network over the coming years.

Top
Share