Belfast Residents Call For Cycle-Friendly Infrastructure

Belfast residents want more measures to promote cycling in the city, the latest Bike Like report has revealed.

Some 77% of residents say they would cycle more if the city's infrastructure provided more bike lanes that are separated from traffic and pedestrians.

Just two miles of protected cycling space currently exists in Belfast.

The Bike Life survey, the biggest assessment of cycling in urban areas in the UK and Ireland, gathered the opinions of over 1,400 residents, some of whom do not currently cycle in the city.

Some 78% called for increased space for socialising, cycling and walking on their local high street; whilst 54% think there are too many people driving in their neighbourhood. 63% of residents also supported restricting through-traffic on residential streets.

Belfast is a good place to cycle for just 36% of residents, with almost half (48%) reporting concerns about safety as the main reason why they don't cycle or cycle less often.

The data sparked calls for investment in the city's active travel infrastructure.

Ann Madden from Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity behind the survey, said there is still a long way to go to make Belfast a great place to cycle.

She commented: "This is the third report we have produced for Belfast which recently declared a climate emergency.

"The need to invest in cycling infrastructure is more urgent than ever if we are to tackle the mounting problems of the climate crisis, air pollution, congestion and obesity.

"The good news is that cycling can help tackle all of these issues for a very small investment."

Colette Leeson, a civil servant who lives and works in Belfast, chose to have a car-free lifestyle. She described how she and her husband decided to live near the city centre so they can walk and cycle everywhere.

"We cycle in all weathers," Ms Leeson said. "We cycle to and from work. We cycle to keep fit. We cycle to see family and for leisure.

"If we need a car, say for weekend trips or to transport bigger items, then we just hire one. It works out a lot cheaper than buying and running a car that might sit outside your door all week.

"We need more protected cycle lanes on Belfast's roads so we are not causing a nuisance to pedestrians, and we need a proper network of cycle lanes that join up and that are safer at junctions."

Cycling saves 3,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to 8,200 people flying from Belfast to Tenerife, each year. Active travel also contributes £24.7 million annually to the economy.

Sinn Fein councillor Ciaran Beattie called on the Department of Infrastructure to deliver on the demands. He is pushing for a feasibility study of cycle routes running in parallel with the M1 motorway.

"This would provide a safe route to the city for cyclists from Lisburn, numerous park and rides and the residents of South and West Belfast," the Belfast city councillor said.

"Every day, people cycling in Belfast takes up to 7,500 cars off the road, which helps tackle congestion and air pollution across the city.

"It's clear there is a need and an appetite for good quality cycling infrastructure throughout the city.

"Additionally, there's a lot of people in Belfast who don't have access to a car and would benefit greatly from investment in new safe cycle lanes throughout the city."

Cllr Beattie said the infrastructure investment would help combat the risk of social exclusion, debt and transport poverty, while also improving people's physical and mental health.

He continued: "Cycling could help many residents access employment, healthcare and everyday services, but only if we make cycling appealing, safe and accessible for everyone.

"This report makes it loud and clear of the public desire to build better cycling lanes throughout Belfast, as well as the wider benefits it will bring to the city as a whole."

The Bike Life Belfast report also found that 80% of residents want more traffic-free cycle routes away from roads, such as through parks or along waterways, while 77% want more cycle tracks along roads, physically protected from traffic and pedestrians.

Some 67% of residents also support building more protected on-road cycle tracks, even when this would mean less space for other road traffic.

Launching the report, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said: "Connecting communities and encouraging more active travel is a key priority for me and I want to make transport cleaner, greener and more sustainable.

"The Bike Life report launched today provides key data to help us better understand the state of cycling in Belfast and highlights the areas we need to focus on in order to encourage more people to cycle, for their everyday journeys, in a safe environment.

"In addition to reducing air pollution, this has huge benefits for all of us, including cutting down on traffic congestion and contributing to improved mental and physical health and wellbeing."



(JG/CM)