Why not give Cork's Lord Mayor a complimentary bicycle?
We asked every Cork City Councillor if they cycle, and if they don't what's holding them back.
It’s a ritual as old as it is familiar: for the past 30 years the Lord Mayor of Cork city is presented with a new Ford car. It’s usually the first registered car, and usually black.
This year was no different: on July 2 Councillor Colm Kelleher, the new Lord Mayor, took delivery of a Ford Mondeo Vignale.
There was a photo shoot to mark the occasion with the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive of Cork City Council, but the Council didn’t promote the event on its social media.
The Lord Mayoral vehicle always enjoys the first number of a registration plate series, and this current 6 monthly incarnation boasts the distinctive registration “212-C-1”. The Lord Mayor’s polished black car, complete with driver, is a common sight around Cork City and County, because the First Citizen has a hectic schedule representing the Council at various events.
Here’s an uncommon sight though: a Cork Lord Mayor on a bicycle. One of the big projects the city council is committed to is reimagining Cork city. Why not reimagine how the Lord Mayor travels around Cork city, especially within the city centre?
Last week Tripe+Drisheen emailed all 31 city councillors with two short questions related to cycling:
1. Do you cycle and how much/how often? (To and from work, for leisure etc)
2. If you don't cycle often or at all, what are the main reasons?
From the 31 councillors contacted, nearly half of them replied. And from that cohort, most of the councillors cycle to varying degrees.
“I used to cycle the majority of days to work in Little Island, taking my bike on the train,” said Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran, but working from home has put a stop to that.
Oliver bought an electric bicycle last summer which, along with walking, has become his main mode of transport. He also cycles his son to school daily.
“The last year hasn't been very typical. I have an electric bike which I use mainly for leisure, although because it's foldable I sometimes throw it in the car,” said Cllr Dan Boyle of the Green Party.
“As a teenager the bike was like an extension of me. Then the car took over,” said Sinn Féin Cllr Eolan Ryng, the newest member of Cork City Council.
“Recently I've started to rediscover cycling. First through use of a bike when on holidays. It's a fantastic way to see everything and you feel a bit more connected with your surroundings than when you're in a car. And lately I'm teaching my son to cycle which has reopened the door for me,” said Eolan.
Like many others will testify to the habit of jumping in the car becomes a reflex.
Green Party Cllr Colette Finn said she cycles most days for shopping; working from home has meant that commuter trips are no longer necessary, but Colette added, “as we are getting invited to outdoor events a bit more so I usually cycle to these as well. I enjoy cycling and now that the cycle lanes are being expanded I am finding it easier to take to the roads.”
As part of its ongoing project to make the city more cycle friendly, Cork City Council has added “20km of new and improved cycle lanes” 4km of protective wands and parking for +478 bikes throughout the city.”
While many people “rediscovered” cycling during the repeated lockdowns, a survey carried out by Cork Cycling Campaign this year showed that there’s still much to be done to get people cycling.
Cork Cycling Campaign’s survey found that “less than 1% of people indicated that proper infrastructure was available for at least 75% of the length of their journeys.”
Their survey also noted that the main obstacle to getting more people out cycling are concerns around road safety.
Fianna Fáil Cllr John Sheehan noted that while he does own a bike fear of a road traffic accident is one of the factors that gives him pause for thought. But, John also noted that he is a runner and a lot of his spare time is taken up with running.
Other councillors who responded pointed out that while they don’t cycle, it’s because they prefer to walk (Independent Cllrs Mick Finn and Thomas Sheehan) or they use a scooter motorcycle to get around (Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy).
Fine Gael Cllr Deirdre Forde likely speaks for many when she said she used to love cycling, adding “I probably need some practice and quiet roads to build up my stamina and courage.”
Cork Cycling Campaign outlined a number of “quick wins - small (but important) things that can be done at a low-cost and in a short time frame that can make a real difference to people cycling” in their 2021 report.
Having a mayor who cycles while on official business might be considered a quick win. It would probably also help drive down the percentage of those surveyed “who believe that the City Council’s understanding of cyclist’s infrastructure is poor or severely lacking.”
Perhaps even one of the city’s bicycle shops will present future lord mayors with a bicycle and so he or she can add #andacyclist to their bio.
Editor’s note: We’ll update this story if councillors who have not replied yet get in touch with us.