A protest will be taking place in Dublin tomorrow (Wednesday) to demand an increase in funding for cycling. The protest is organised by Dublin Cycling Campaign in collaboration with Cyclist.ie – the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network which is the member for Ireland of the European Cyclists’ Federation.
Also supporting the protest are An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland, Stop Climate Chaos coalition (of which Cyclist.ie are a member organisation) and Love 30, an umbrella body of organisations and individuals who believe that lower speed limits can make our towns and cities safer and more pleasant places to live, work and play.
Last October they held Ireland’s largest ever cycle protest when almost 1,000 cyclists took to the streets to demand proper funding for cycling and tomorrow protesters will be gathering from 12.45pm outside the office of the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross in Leeson Lane before cycling to the Dáil at 1.00pm.
The organisers have published the following statement on the Dublin Cycling Campaign website:
We’re calling on the Minister to:
• allocate at least 10% of the Transport Budget to cycling
• implement the National Cycle Policy Framework in full
• take action to reduce transport emissions so that Ireland fulfils its obligations under the Paris Agreement
We want to make this the biggest and the best protest yet so bring all your cycling friends. Write/email/Tweet/call your TDs (Oireachtas switchboard (01) 618 3000) and tell them you’re coming and ask them to come out and meet us and show their support for cycling. Get your loudest bell ready and make your own placards telling everyone what you want for cycling.
Our supporter Stop Climate Chaos held its largest mass lobby yet last November, with over 100 TDs and Senators meeting with over 150 supporters of the coalition for a climate action briefing. One of the day’s asks was to Realign Transport Investment to Achieve the Goals of the Smarter Travel Policy by prioritising walking, cycling and clean public transport. So far, this realignment has the backing of almost 60 TDs and Senators. You can read their letter to Minister Ross here.
Dublin Cycling Campaign is calling on everyone who uses a bike in Dublin – for transportation or for leisure – to join our protest on Wednesday 22nd February to send a loud-and-clear message to the Minister that he needs to recognise that the status quo is not good enough – cycling needs proper funding to make it safer and to enable Dublin to reach its potential as a world class cycling city.
