Dublin Cycling Campaign

Election 2007

Survey of Dáil candidates

A questionnaire was sent out to 88 candidates standing for Dublin Dáil constituencies, plus Transport Minister Martin Cullen (FF, Waterford). Of these, 25 were from Fianna Fáil; 16 Fine Gael; 15 Labour; 12 Green; 12 Sinn Féin; 5 Progressive Democrats; 2 Socialist Party and 1 Independent. We received 40 replies (9 FF, 11 FG, 7 Lab, 6 Grn, 3 SF, 2 PD, 1 SP, 1 Ind), from all constituencies apart from Dublin Southwest.

The full results are now available, along with a summary.

A more detailed questionnaire was sent to transport spokespersons; we received replies from Fine Gael, Greens and Sinn Féin. Labour did not respond, but most of the points are addressed in their 10 point plan for cycling.

Press release 20 May

Party policies

Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil's transport policy is set out in The Next Steps - Transport 21. There is no mention of cycling or walking in their policies. The only policies remotely addressing cyclist and pedestrian concerns are the pledges on road safety: In addition, their education policy contains these pledges:

• Ensure that education is provided in road safety at different stages of the school system, including a specific transition year course;
• Make Social, Personal and Health Education compulsory for all senior cycle students;

Fine Gael

Fine Gael does not have a published transport policy at this point. There is a collection of transport policy statements. Their 98-page manifesto contains one sentence about cycling and nothing about walking. The following manifesto pledges can be relevant to cycling and walking:

• We will increase the facilities and opportunities for cycling in public areas and as a viable means of commuting. (p.89)
• We will require all new business start-ups, intending to employ more than 30 employees, as part of their planning permission application to develop a mobility management plan which set out how their future employees will commute to work. These employers will be expected to develop the most sustainable methods of commuting to work such as through the provision of buses or through car-pooling. (p.89, also p.33)
• We will require each Local Authority to spell out how it intends to roll out the Green Schools programme, organised by An Taisce and which has proved remarkably successful in counties like Clare where 80 schools are currently enrolled. (p.29)
• We will seek to have primary and secondary schools more actively involved in promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. (p.51)

Labour

Labour has issued a detailed 10 point plan for cycling. The manifesto section on Building homes, linking people also contains a number of cycling-related proposals.

Green Party

The Green Party transport policy contains a substantial section on cycling, which compares well with the DCC policy documents on a cycle-friendly society and infrastructure.

Progressive Democrats

The PD election manifesto contains a section on transport policy. This contains the following pledges:

6 Build more infrastructure to allow safer commuting by bicycle and on foot.

16 Make road safety training a mandatory element of the school curriculum.

Their transport policy was launched 1 May, but no details are available.

Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin's transport policy was launched 2 May. Their press release is available, but not the full policy domument. The press release contains the following on cycling:

Improvements in quality and quantity of cycle lanes plus free communal bicycles in the city centre

The party's election newsletter contained the following on cycling:

Sinn Féin believes that substantially more should be done to encourage people to choose greener and more environmentally-friendly transport options. Cycling is an excellent form of transport that is obviously more beneficial to the environment and positive regarding people's fitness and health. Sinn Féin proposes increasing the number of cycle lanes, in tandem with increasing their quality. They should be maintained to a high standard, by filling pot holes and removing debris. Employers shold be encouraged to make workplaces cyclist-friendly by including wash facilities for cyclist employees and safe secure parking. This government's Transport 21 plan has overlooked cyclists and indeed pedestrians. Sinn Féin wants to see the introduction of a system of free communal bicycles in the city centre.

Specific issues

The questionnaires sent to transport spokespeople contained questions on several specific policy issues. The summary below is based on the responses from FG, Greens and SF, and Labour's 10 point plan.

Mandatory use law

The Greens and Sinn Féin are committed to repeal the law requiring cyclists to use cycle tracks, even when these are substandard or dangerous. Labour promises to review the law, while Fine Gael will keep it.

Cycling officers in local authorities

All four parties favour the appointment of Cycling Officers in all local authorities.

Substandard traffic lane widths

We asked what the parties would do where traffic lanes are too narrow for drivers to overtake cyclists safely within the lane with a minimum clearance of 1.5m.

• Fine Gael says no cycle lane is better than an unsafe one in such circumstances.
• Labour will ensure that cycling is incorporated as a mainstream consideration in road design,and that road design standards are reviewed to better accommodate cycling. In particular, they will ensure that there is a review of the width of bus lanes.
• The Green Party will reassess the function of the road if it turns out the shape or use is wrong - reflecting overall design principles encompassing these three factors.
• Sinn Féin will empower local councillors to be in a position to enforce standards.

Congestion charging

The Green Party would introduce a system of variable electronic tolling ann all approach roads to the M50 to regulate the motorway and the volume of traffic in the city. The other parties do not support any form of congestion charging at present.

Bicycles and public transport

All four parties will require public transport providers to develop a policy on combining cycling and public transport, and will require bus tram, metro and rail stops to provide bicycle parking. The Green Party will allow bicycles to be carried on Dart and long-distance trains; Labour will ensure that space is provided to accommodate bicycles on services where possible.

Careless and dangerous driving

All four parties favour increased Garda enforcement against careless and dangerous driving. Sinn Féin also favours higher penalties.