Dublin has a new plan to create a whole cycling network by 2031

The Active Travel plan will see 95% of residents live no further than 400 metres away from bike route access or public transport

Last week, Dublin authorities unveiled their Active Travel plan, committing city authorities to work to gradually push people away from cars and towards active modes of transport meaning cycling and walking. The plan calls for expanding Dublin’s current 10-kilometre-long cycling routes into a city-spanning network of over 310 kilometres in the next nine years.

Mobility in Dublin is not particularly active

As RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster, reports, Minister for Transport and Climate, Eamon Ryan explained that the Active Plan is backed by two very important components – funding and political will. Minister Ryan stressed the need to decarbonise the mobility sector in Dublin, as the city has committed to becoming a zero-carbon city by 2050.

However, authorities will have a steep road ahead, as residents have previously blocked cycling lane schemes in specific regions. Also, the city will need to increase the share of active journeys (i.e. made with bikes or on foot) from a relatively low current 12% to 28%, by 2028.

Nevertheless, Minister Ryan claimed that the Covid-pandemic changed a lot of attitudes about opening streets up to more pedestrian and cycling traffic as people tried to find open-air public spaces to meet.

For the public good

Dublin City Council Chief Executive Owen Keegan explained that some people will lose out, as he pointed to parking around shops in particular. He also stressed that the city will need to proceed carefully to mitigate that impact, as adding a comprehensive cycling network to the city would definitely work towards the public good.

These include reducing CO2 pollution and saving money on commutes for citizens. Moreover, according to an official statement by the city, it could help people be more fit, have more reliable journey times and actually travel quicker than with a car.

Minister Ryan doubled down, by saying that when the Active Travel plan is complete, around 95% of residents in Dublin would have access to the bus or cycling networks, located within 400 metres of their place of residence.