Dublin cycling boom demands national action
Dublin cycling boom demands national action - The Labour Party
- Build it and they will come, Minister must act
Labour Climate and Transport spokesperson Deputy Ciarán Ahern has called on Government to urgently accelerate investment in safe, segregated cycling infrastructure following new figures showing a 50% rise in cycling for commuting in Dublin and strong public backing for more bike lanes.
Deputy Ahern said the surge in numbers proves that when safe infrastructure is delivered, people use it, and he urged Ministers to double down on active travel by completing a coherent network in the capital, fast tracking BusConnects, and rolling out similar investment across cities and towns nationwide.
Deputy Ahern said:
“The message from commuters in Dublin could not be clearer. When safe, segregated cycling infrastructure is built, people use it. A 50% rise in cycling for commuting in just two years is not a marginal shift. It is a huge transformation in real time. The public has also shown strong support for more bike lanes. People want safe options. They want reliable alternatives to sitting in traffic. They want cleaner air and healthier streets. Government must now match that ambition.
“For years we heard the same tired arguments that bike lanes would sit empty or cause disruption. The reality on the ground shows if you build it, they will come. We can see it every morning on our roads. More parents cycle with children. More workers commute by bike. More people choose active travel because it works for them. That progress did not happen by accident. It happened where space was reallocated and protection was provided. The Minister cannot ignore this evidence. The public has moved. Policy must now catch up.
“But we cannot continue with a piecemeal approach. Too many lanes begin and end abruptly. Too many routes spit vulnerable road users back into heavy traffic. That undermines confidence and puts people at risk. A half finished network is not good enough. We need joined up, continuous, segregated routes that allow someone to cycle from door to door without facing dangerous gaps. Completing the network must now become the priority.
“It is also vital that BusConnects is completed as soon as possible. That programme will deliver up to 200 kilometres of protected cycle lanes across the city alongside dedicated public transport routes. That is transformative infrastructure. It will reshape how Dublin moves. Delays only slow progress and frustrate communities who want safer streets and better transport options.
“This survey focuses on Dublin, but the demand for safe cycling infrastructure does not stop at the M50. People in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and towns across the country deserve the same opportunity to choose active travel. Climate targets will not be met through rhetoric. We must give people practical, safe alternatives to car dependency. Rolling out high quality cycling infrastructure nationwide will cut congestion, reduce emissions and improve public health.
“Active travel is not a luxury. It is core transport infrastructure. Yet under the National Development Plan it is allocated €360 million per year for the next five years. In real terms that represents a year on year cut once inflation and rising construction costs are taken into account. At a time when demand is surging and public support is strong, standing still is not good enough. Government must increase investment, complete the network in Dublin, deliver BusConnects in full, and build ambitious, protected cycling routes in every city and major town. The appetite is there. The evidence is clear. What is missing is urgency. Ministers must stop hesitating and start delivering a connected, national cycling network that keeps people safe and moves Ireland forward.”