Allocating 10 % of the transport capital budget to cycling has been a long-standing demand of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF). But so far, to our knowledge, this has nowhere been materialised with central government funding – until now.

At the end of June, by adopting the Programme for Government (PfG), the three incoming governing parties agreed to:

… an allocation of 10% of the total transport capital budget for cycling projects and an allocation of 10% of the total capital budget for pedestrian infrastructure. The Government’s commitment to cycling and pedestrian projects will be set at 20% of the 2020 capital budget (€360 million) per year for the lifetime of the Government. (p13)

The new Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport, Eamon Ryan, a bicycle shop owner in a former life, will be responsible in translating this government commitment into real investments for high quality cycling infrastructure in all towns and cities across the Irish Republic. 2018 investments into cycling stood at €12.64 million (or less than 2% of the transport budget), according to figures published by ECF member Cyclist.ie. The investments into walking and cycling will have to be done in the context of a new Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) that the Department for Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) of the previous government has been preparing.

Cyclist.ie also stresses the need for the new Minister to create the necessary horizontal (with other governments departments) as well as vertical structures (all 31 local authorities) to be aligned in their policies around walking and cycling promotion. “One of the failings in the implementation of the ambitious 2009 National Cycle Policy Framework (NCPF) was the inaction on ensuring good coordination and cooperation between all bodies”, Damien O’Tuama, spokesperson of Cyclist.ie and Vice-President of the ECF, points out.

With the UK government announcing earlier this week a £2.2bn investment to “kickstart a walking and cycling revolution” over the next 5 years, continental Europe should turn its attention towards Ireland and the UK for inspiration – and bring the competition for the best runner-up cycling country in Europe on.