[Colm Moore]

Today's National Cycling Policy promises more bikes on trains and trams.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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DATE: 20th April 2009

HEADLINES

National Cycling Strategy: Official attitudes must be tackled say cyclists
National Cycling Strategy: Cyclists say new policy is groundbreaking but officials must experience roads and traffic while using bikes.

BODY

Cyclist.ie broadly endorses the government’s newly released National Cycling Policy Framework. [see http://www.transport.ie/pressRelease.aspx?Id=85] “Government interest in cycling is welcome and we expect that many more commuters will swap the frustration of endless gridlock for the freedom of cycling” said Dr. Darren McAdam-O'Connell, vice chairperson of Cyclist.ie, Ireland’s national cycling lobby group. “Regular cyclists have long known that cycling is the easiest, most practical and efficient way to get around our increasingly crowded cities. Recognition and promotion of cycling by policy makers is long over due. We strongly welcome a document that contains many of the measures that cyclists have been demanding for a long time, such as stronger measures against urban speeding, on-road cycle training in schools, improved driver training curriculum, dismantling of dangerous multilane one-way systems and permitting of bike carriage on trains and buses."

However, the cyclists say that while the government’s cycling initiative is “groundbreaking” in its vision, its success will depend on a fundamental change in attitudes in official circles. Without this change, Ireland may not see the projected increase in cycling numbers. Cyclist.ie chairman, Dr. Mike McKillen, said that “there is 'institutional blindness' to cyclists road safety needs among too many public officials who deal with cycling issues. In the last two decades the number of officials and politicians using a bike has plummeted so that most decision-makers, such as roads engineers and Garda management, are now car drivers with little practical knowledge or understanding of cycling in traffic". Cyclist.ie, fears that government funding will be wasted on ill-conceived cycling projects unless knowledge and attitude deficits are tackled first. Cyclist.ie therefore particularly welcomes the proposal to require cycle training for all road engineer

s. “We assume this will involve on-road training in real traffic situations, and hope it will be extended to all senior officials involved in policing, designing, or managing Ireland's transport infrastructure.”

The need for training in cycling issues is perceived to be particularly relevant to management within An Garda Siochana. While strongly welcoming the emphasis on enforcement of traffic law relating to cyclists, Dr. McKillen stated that "Garda management doesn't seem to view it as necessary to tackle traffic infringements that impact cyclists safety, from cyclists not using lights at night to drivers who overtake cyclists dangerously close and at speed."

Dr. McKillen finished by saying that “unless those who are responsible for our roads are forced to experience them directly as cyclists, there is little chance of any real change in the attitudes and policies that caused the current situation. Without this attitude shift any NCP will fail and we will not see a return to the situation where school children start cycling once again to school"


ENDS

NOTES

Cyclist.ie, the Irish national cycling lobby group, made a comprehensive submission on the Governments cycling strategy including among various recommendations:
• Increasing the number of cyclists (more cyclists means lower accident rates as motorist awareness increases)
• On-road training for cyclists
• Training motorists to interact with cyclists
• Updating the rules of the road and enforcing them for all road users
• Reducing traffic speeds and volumes in our towns
• Improving road surface maintenance
• Redesigning roads to take account of the presence of cyclists
• Providing appropriate cycle facilities

Cyclist.ie's policy document can be read here: http://www.cyclist.ie/documents/National