CyclingForAll.ie seeks for politicians to sign up to:
- Implementing and supporting the CyclingForAll.ie standards for planning and design.
- Setting aside 20% of the Department for Transport’s national infrastructure budget for walking and cycling projects (A secondary option for candidates is to signup to 10% funding on cycling, ie if this is in line with their party policy).
- Candidates in local areas are asked to refer to their cycling campaigns for local asks, such as supporting trialing the Liffey Cycle Route in Dublin City, see LiffeyCycle.com.
The benefits of the above would include:
- Savings not just on transport for the individuals who take up cycling but also for the Government — Transport For London reports a benefit ratio of 20:1 for cycling investment, while in the Netherlands a €500m per year spend on cycling infrastructure generates €19bn in health benefits alone which is a 38:1 return on investment.
- Physically segregated cycle paths on main roads, combined with traffic calming and filtering on low-speed local streets.
- This would calm both main roads and residential streets, which brings a safety for people walking or running, residents and even people in cars.
- Safer and more attract walking and cycle routes to schools, collages, workplaces and other destinations.
- Extending the range of public transport and improving access to public transport, and also easing public transport in high use areas (which is one of the reasons Transport For London is investing in cycling infrastructure).
- This would lead to better health of individuals, less air and noise pollution even for those not cycling, and more transport choices.
- A network of urban, interurban and rural walking and cycle routes which is good for transport, business, leisure, and tourism.
If all of that sounds good to you: Ask your candidates to sign up now at CyclingForAll.ie.
