An analysis of the recently published Census 2011 data by the Irish Bicycle Business Association (IBBA) shows a dramatic rise in cycling in Ireland’s larger cities, with commuting by bike up by over one third in Dublin City, Cork and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown. Cycling to work or school has risen by 15% nationally between 2006 and 2011.
Jimmy Stagg, Chair of the IBBA, comments: “This rise shows that the Government’s support for cycling as a means of transport is working. The Department of Transport’s 2009 National Transport Policy Framework has an ambitious target to get 10 percent of commuters cycling by 2020. The 2011 Census shows that with the right support people will switch to cycling.”
In 2011 the Irish Bicycle Business Association published a detailed report on the Cycle to Work Scheme. It estimated that 90,000 bikes were supplied through the scheme between 2009 and 2011 generating Eur139 million in economic activity.
The Government’s National Cycle Policy Framework shows that to promote cycling we need a range of measures delivered by different organisations. This is now happening with the Cycle to Work Scheme, the Green Schools Travel Programme, the HSE’s www.getirelandactive.ie campaign, www.dublinbikes.ie and www.bikeweek.ie. The Census results show that this coordinated policy delivers results and that with continued support the target of 10 % of commuters commuting by bike is achievable.