Q. What exactly are the plans?

A. The National Transport Authority, the governing body on all transport in Ireland released plans in 2013 for a comprehensive network of safe segregated cycleways in the Greater Dublin Area. The plans consist of a number of primary routes on Dublin’s major arteries with secondary routes to connect these large arteries. The plans can be viewed in full here: https://www.nationaltransport.ie/publications/transport-planning/gda-cycle-network-plan/

 

 

Q. My organisation is not a business, can I still write in?

A. Yes! Any organisations or individuals are encouraged to get involved! Any organisation in Dublin, business or otherwise, will be affected by these plans, so it’s important that you speak up! Is your employer a hospital, non-profit, school or university? Have your chief executive or similarly senior official write a letter. This is not a party political issue! The Dublin area councils support the project but lack funding from a the National Transport Authority.

 

 

Q. I can’t get hold of our managing director to back this, can I still reply?

A. Yes! You yourself can write to the Minister and the NTA to personally demand the immediate implementation of the plans. Their contact details are as follows.

Mr. Shane Ross, Minister
Department of Transport
Tourism and Sport
Leeson Lane
Dublin 2
D02TR60

Ms. Anne Graham, CEO
National Transport Authority
Dún Scéine
Harcourt Lane
Dublin 2
D02 WT20

 

Q. What objections might I hit internally?

A. Firstly, let us stress that the best way to approach this is to talk to others at your workplace who cycle and then approach your managing director together. This is an employee safety issue and managing directors care about employee safety. With your managing director’s backing you then approach public relations.

Some common objections that you may encounter as well as some appropriate rebuttal are listed here.`

• It’s too political – Not true! The plans are from the National Transport Authority and have cross-party support throughout the four Dublin councils.  The plans also have the support of all the cycling campaign groups in the city. This is an employee health and safety issue as well as an environmental one. It may be worth looking at your employer’s CSR statement to see how it links into your principles.
• It’s not a company issue – Actually, this is very much a company issue! Given the number of your employees who cycle to work, your staff need this type of infrastructure to get to work safely.
• I’m a cyclist and I don’t need cycles lanes – Some cyclists in your company (and possibly some of the most high-profile cyclists) may feel super confident about cycling on performance bikes in traffic.  There is a mountain of evidence that most people don’t want to cycle in these conditions or feel scared if they do. The plans are about cycling for everyone.
• We are not going to endorse a new business group – We are not a new business group. If you wish, you may put a statement up on your website showing your support and need not contact us.

 

Q. Are you a new cycling advocacy organisation?

A. No. We simply represent the views of businesses that are speaking up publicly for the right of their staff to cycle safely to work. Organisations that want to get more seriously involved in cycling advocacy in Dublin should consider joining the excellent Dublin Cycling Campaign. They offer corporate membership to those interested.