A number of medical, environmental and cycling campaigners have joined forces to call for safer cycle routes nationwide.
The Dublin Cycling Campaign, Sport Ireland and the Irish Heart Foundation are among those involved in the Active Travel Coalition.
They are looking for a network of bike lanes, the re-allocation of road space for walking and cycling and continued funding for cycle routes.
Research from the National Transport Authority shows that 11% of adults cycle daily in Dublin but 46% would like to cycle or cycle more if they felt safer.
Dr Sean Owens from the Irish College of General Practitioners says "the strongest evidence for reduced incidence of diabetes, obesity & cardiovascular disease is lifestyle measures centred around physical activity and healthy diets"
He says getting people on their bikes for pleasure, or for a commute, is a triple win.
Dublin Cycling Campaign’s David Timoney says that "we know from research and from the cycle traffic on the Grand Canal and Dun Laoghaire & Seapoint cycle tracks that segregated routes enable people of all ages and abilities to cycle."
Only 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 teenagers who cycle in Dublin are female.
Mairead Forsythe from ‘Women on Wheels’ says that "the figures show a major gender gap in cycling in Dublin and while the barriers to more women and girls cycling are varied, the number 1 barrier is fear of mixing with motor traffic."
The Active Travel Coalition consist of the Irish Heart Foundation, Irish Cancer Society, Diabetes Ireland, Irish College of General Practitioners, Sport Ireland, Cyclist.ie, Dublin Cycling Campaign, Women on Wheels, Irish Pedestrian Network, Friends of the Earth, Irish Doctors for the Environment & Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine (RCPI & RCSI).
