Photo courtesy of the author.

Things are looking up in Dublin for cyclists! According to ECF member Dublin Cycling Campaign, there are many reasons to celebrate. Here are just a few of the great stories to tell, according to Dublin Cycling Campaign Secretary Colm Ryder:

Despite the gloom engendered by the results here in Ireland of the recent National Transport Authority (NTA) Household Survey 2012 - which showed that at the national level only 3% of people used cycling as their main mode of transport in the previous week - things are looking up in Dublin:

1. Cycling in Dublin is on the rise.

   In the past year, based on a recent count at over thirty Dublin city centre locations, cycling volumes have increased by an average of +17% compared with last year’s figures. When compared to the same locations in 2008, cycling levels have nearly doubled – from 33,769 cyclists in 2008 counted to 61,285 counted this year (counted between 7am and 7pm at specific junctions). In other words, cycling has doubled in 5 years in Dublin’s city centre - and this is before the construction of proposed major cycle schemes.

2. The bicycle share scheme is expanding due to enthusiastic demand.

   Dublin Bikes, the public bike rental scheme, has just started construction on Phase 2 of its development, increasing the number of bikes available from the present 580 bikes to nearly 1,500 with an extra 58 new stations.

3. Dublin ranks high among cycling cities.

   Sitting in at #9 in the Copenhagenize Index 2013 for Bicycle Friendly Cities, Dublin is viewed as “ the Great Bike Hope among Emerging Bicycle Cities” by the creators of the index. “They remain an inspiration and a city to watch”.

4. An impressive expansion of the cycling network is being discussed.

   A comprehensive draft study has been published on a proposed Cycle Network for the Greater Dublin Area.  Dublin Cycling Campaign has made a submission to the National Transport Agency on this study which, if realised, will see the Cycle Network grow from the present 500km to over 2,800km. The consultation period has closed and the final version of that study is now being completed.

5. Dublin City Council promotes cycling.

   The Dublin Cycling Campaign is also working together with Dublin City Council to produce a series of videos for online dissemination to promote cycling in Dublin.  Check out the first video of what we hope will be an ongoing campaign on Cycle Promotion.

6. There are many great reasons to visit Dublin soon!

   Next April Dublin will host ECF's AGM. Visiting delegates will be able to experience first-hand the cycling, culinary, and cultural delights of this maritime city.

Great reasons to be cheerful about cycling in Dublin, don’t you think? And this is only a small part of what we are working to replicate throughout the island of Ireland!

Dublin's Lord Mayor contributes his ideas to Dublin Cycling Campaign's 'Wall of Ideas'

About the Author

Colm Ryder is the Secretary of the Dublin Cycling Campaign and member of Cyclist.ie national executive in Ireland.  A civil engineer by profession, he has worked both in the public sector and the private sector, and spent a number of years in the Middle East. At present he is an active volunteer working with Dublin Cycling Campaign, liaising with all Dublin local government offices, the National Transport Authority, the National Trails Office and the government Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport. Colm loves the outdoors, and is an avid cyclist and hill walker.  He is also, like many other Irish people, a lover of music.  Life is never boring!

Contact: colmryder@gmail.com  

About the Editor

Zoé Kruchten is a Communications Assistant at the European Cyclists’ Federation. She has a BA in International Relations and has worked in the past as a bike mechanic (but once a bike mechanic, always a bike mechanic). She is now planning to cycle to Dublin.