Ireland’s ‘Astonishing’ Boost for Cycling and Walking
A former bike shop owner has secured a substantial financial settlement for active travel in the Republic of Ireland. For the next five years, cycling and walking schemes—including protected cycling networks and expanded sidewalks—will receive €360 million (A$587 million) annually or A$2.93 billion over five years.
20% of Ireland’s transport budget will go to walking and cycling while two-thirds of the rest will go to public transit.
To put this funding into perspective, Australian states typically devote about 1% of their transport funding towards cycling, so the Irish funding is about 20 times higher by proportion.
The population of Ireland is just under 5 million people, so pro rata for Australia’s 25 million population that would equate to A$2.93 billion per year and $14.65 billion over five years
The settlement was secured by Eamon Ryan, leader of Ireland’s Green Party, a former co-owner of the Belfield Bike Shop in Dublin, and founding chairman of the city’s cycling advocacy campaign.
20% of Ireland’s transport budget will go to walking and cycling while two-thirds of the rest will go to public transit.
Ryan was saying back in January what many politicians have said during the pandemic: that active transport is the future for many cities.
“Unless you resource it,” he said before lockdown, “it won’t happen.”
Most of this article was first published on Forbes.com