Report card: What the inaugural Walking and Cycling Index says about active travel in Cork?

The NTA's survey of all things active travel in Cork is a good snapshot of where we're at and the distance we have to travel to build a cycle, walk and wheel friendly city.

Worth a read: the new newly published Walking and Cycling Index 2023.

The latest report from the National Transport Authority on the state of all things active travel in Cork is definitely a case of accentuating the positive. And accentuating the positive. And a fair warning to the next government of what people want when it comes to active travel and public transport in their neighborhoods and city.

And to be fair, there are many positives in the inaugural Cork Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index 2023. You might well have seen some of the top lines from the report splashed across headlines: people in Cork walk or wheel 22 times around the world every day, 7 million cycling trips were made in Cork in 2023.

But, also let’s not lose focus on the fact that only 4% of people in the greater Cork area travel by bike five times or more every week. Public transport is only marginally better at 9%.

It’s going to take a lot more money and a huge culture shift to get us out of the car. The mayors of Cork City and County could lead on this by spending a little less time being driven around to official engagements and try cycling, wheeling or walking to official duties, when and where possible. Lead by example and all that.

Reports such as the Cycling and Walking Index are useful because they feed back to us raw hard data not just how we move around, but also what we think about when we think about cycling. And walking. And taking the bus. Or not doing any of all of the above.

On that last point, I recall a conversation with a friend of mine and asking if he takes the bus, which stops within 20 metres of his house, to town, when he goes out. Mundane question, but his answer will always stick with me: he didn’t, because his faith in the bus service is so low, and possibly he is so wedded to going everywhere by car, that the bus as a public service which sails right past his house did not exist to him. The car is a flex.

On this note, according to the Walking and Cycling Index, 40% of respondents (the sample was over 1,100) said that in the future they would take public transport. Nearly the same amount, 37%, said they would cycle. If even half of those two percentages were to come true that would be massive, bearing in mind that surveys about behaviour and habits can be a little like New Year’s wish lists.

What's not in the report: Grand Parade pedestrian crossings

So what’s holding the people of Cork back? One factor has to be traffic - the volume of cars on the road, and the speed they drive at - and the other is infrastructure. 

When it comes to making more livable neighbourhoods, nearly 70% of respondents supported more cycle paths. Cork City Council have rolled some out in the city centre, but not nearly enough and not enough is done on the upkeep of them. The City Council could also have mandated 20kph in speed limits in estates (and 30kph in built up areas) which would go a long way to making roads more hospitable to cyclists especially those cyclists who haven’t been on a bike in years and would like to get back on the saddle. 

Both Councils need to go much harder on a joined up cycling network and if needs be every single person involved in active travel in City and County Hall should sign up for a cycle study trip to Holland and come back and commit to the facts they found on the ground.

Let’s not also forget as one respondent said, cycling is a lot cheaper than driving, and it’s also fun. Or it should be. Just witness the cohort of councillors who were all smiles up on their bikes in Utrecht.

What do we want? The people of Cork have spoken.

Back to the facts: Four out of every five respondents think that more space should be given over to pedestrians, cyclists and people using scooters, wheelchairs and mobility scooters on their main street is a good thing.

A further 81% of people support a ban on parking on footpaths. (It’s not in there, but what percentage of that percentage also mount a curb because they’ll only be two minutes, and it’s not like they’ll be fined!)

Onwards with the facts. So who cycles? Well, according to the data a quarter of all Corkonians cycle with 18% cycling once a week. A far greater percentage of men (25%) cycle compared with women (12%). Our Deputy Lord Mayor falls into the latter category. Interestingly, the propensity to cycle in Cork corresponds with social class. In Cork, 24% of people in the AB socio-economic group (managers, professionals etc.) cycle than the 10% in the DE socio-economic group (semi skilled, unskilled and unemployed).

Across the board, there is overwhelming support for measures that would make cycling more amenable in the places where people live, i.e. there neighbourhoods. This includes infrastructure such as cycle lanes but also secure bike parking facilities at transport hubs. Just under 70% of respondents support building more cycle paths even if it means there would be less road space for cars.

So what do people think would get them up on a bike? Nearly 50% of respondents said training courses and organised social cycles would help. The latter are taking place on a monthly basis now - follow Cork Cycling Campaign for more details. Crucially access to a bike is also a factor.

Another positive takeaway from of the cycling landscape in Cork is the TFI bikes. There are 34 cycle hire stations located across the city and while I don’t use them myself, I have a brother who does on a daily basis and he swears by them. Could there be a way of rolling out ones suitable for younger and older people  - i.e. less heavy? Who knows, the Mayors and the City Managers might even get up on one. They would if there was a press photographer around, says you!

Have a read and tell us what you think.