The Dublin Cycling Campaign is an independent, voluntary lobby group that has been working to improve the city for all cyclists for over a decade and a half.
Sign up to our free email newsletter to keep up to date
Submission to '2030 Vision'
From: Will Andrews <willdesign@esatclear.ie>
Date: 2010 January 25 12 00 01 am GMT
To: jeremy.ryan@nationaltransport.ie
Cc: consult@nationaltransport.ie, Derek Peppard office <derek@timepoint.ie>, Damien O'Tuama <damodublin@hotmail.com>, Mike McKillen <mmckilln@tcd.ie>
Subject: 2030 Vision
Dear Jeremy,
Good to meet you last week at the consultation process for 2030 Vision. The Dublin Cycling Campaign welcome the opportunity to contribute to the stakeholders' consultation, and are confident that the vision will set out admirable goals for the GDA, both in land-use and transport.
We do feel that, (especially in recessionary times) cycling presents opportunities for reducing car use and assisting the reach of public transport which are under-appreciated in the 2030 Vision information we've seen so far. Smarter Travel sets a target of 10% of all trips to be by bike by 2020 (Action 15). This is not going to happen without a very clear understanding of what cyclists need.
As you know the National Cycle Policy Framework (attached) sets out forward-thinking and positive policies to promote cycling. Fundamental to the Policy (Objective 2) is the 'Hierarchy of Solutions' needed to best promote cycling. We wish to emphasise to 2030 Vision that it is not the 'provision of infrastructure' which is topmost, and not the creation of a 'cycle network', if that means a set of joined-up cycle lanes. Cyclists are by law entitled to use the public roads, and firstly need traffic reduction, traffic calming, and junction treatment/traffic management to feel safe. Cycle lanes being designed in Ireland currently, even those designed by the Quality Bus Network office, often provide a low quality of service for cyclists; some are actually unsafe.
Importantly for 2030 Vision, inexpensive but carefully planned measures to grow inter-modal transport i.e. bikes on trains; bikes on buses & bike parks at railheads, airports etc. will -in conjunction with 'Hierarchy' measures- vastly increase the 'catchment' of expensive public transport measures, and must be taken seriously.
As touched-on by Frank McCabe in his presentation on strategy constraints, these are items which need not have high costs. E.g. effective speed enforcement by fines would in fact earn revenue for the Exchequer. Capacity of existing roads would be increased, if enough cars are replaced by cycles; safer roads for all would ensue. The more cyclists are visible on the roads, the safer will they be. A critical mass can be achieved, as can be seen embryonically in Dublin, with the huge proliferation of dublinbikes in use by businessmen.
We feel that this form of promotion of cycling, supported by other relevant measures already in 2030 Vision, will support all five 2030 Vision Strategy Objectives. We realise that several of the measures I mention were prioritised quite highly by respondents to consultation, but feel strongly that the five 'hierarchy' measures of the National Cycle Policy Framework should be imported to 2030 Vision and put at a high level.
In summary:
- Dubliners need a subtle combination of legislative, engineering and cultural changes to get them on their bike. These changes would cost relatively little.
- The tendency to focus on cycle lanes & networks can be counter-productive.
- The National Cycle Policy and the 'Hierarchy' must form part of 2030 Vision.
Finally, we'd be delighted to accompany the authors of 2030 Vision on a cycling tour of Dublin, to point out possible policy measures & pitfalls, if their time allows.
Thanks for your time & attention; please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss,
All the best,
Will Andrews (chair)
Dublin Cycling Campaign
for safer, quieter, greener, more sociable streets
086 6088843
Please see our website www.dublincycling.ie for more information. You'd be welcome to our next monthly meeting, as noted on the website.
- Blogs:
