We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
BICYCLE JOURNEYS IN Dublin increased by a substantial 82% between 2006 and 2011 according to new research.
Codema, the capital’s energy agency, put the figures together as part of a plan which also showed that Dublin is using far less energy than it used to.
The data was compiled for the Dublin City Sustainable Energy Action Plan and the authors attribute the 82% cycling increase to three factors: the Dublin Bike scheme, the Cycle-to-Work scheme and the introduction of new cycle pathways throughout the city.
“The report highlights a significant modal shift, with passengers moving away from public transport and towards more independent modes of travel such as driving, walking and cycling,” explained report author Donna Gartland.
It is good to see an increase in the numbers walking and cycling but the number of private car journeys is still an ongoing concern.”
The report also highlighted how the economic downturn has effected energy consumption in the city, something which fell by 36% in the five-year period from 2006-2011.
The drop in energy usage came mostly from the commercial ssector which saw its share of energy consumption drop from 33% to 27%.
Codema also analysed the energy efficiently of Dublin houses and found that the majority were of a poor standard. Most only achieved a Building Energy Rating (BER) of D1 or lower.
Terraced housing fared even worse with 76% being D1 or lower.
In the BER ratings of A1 to G, D1 is in the 10th highest rating out of 15.
“The majority of housing is pre-1970 and terraced houses are the oldest housing type in the city,” explains Gartland. “These properties require a huge amount of energy to heat so this needs to be a key area to focus on for future energy-saving initiatives.”
The report also outlines that Dublin City Council has reduced its energy usage by 22% over the five-year time period.
The report can be read in full here >
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
If you take away street parking, let the inner city parking centres charge €4/hr and have a shite one way system then people will eventually get sick of driving and traffic.
I can understand people will want to cycle to work for convenience and health matters but Dublin still has one of the worst cycling infrastructures in developed Europe!
Care to support your claims with quotations?
In relation to….?
I think Dublin is doing quite well for cyclists compared to back in the 80′s when cycle lanes were non existent.
which bit? Ive gone cycling in France and Germany and the infrastructure is much better, lanes separated from the road etc. I cycle with one of my kids to school when possible but only by using long stretches of pavement (that don’t front houses).
Yeah, no matter what happens to the city centre, you’re not going to get me cycling 30Kms to work.
The DCC cycling fraternity has already chased me out of the city centre when it comes to shopping and recreation. Congratulations. But when it comes to work I’ll either go work in estate somewhere or just continue using whatever road infrastructure is left after the vultures get their hands on it.
Exactly- DCC have really done nothing since letting all the old red tarmac lanes fade to nothing. Safe routes into the city center are still non existent, with stupid one way roads like Bleeding Horse to Rathmines still hanging around. Cars park in cycle lanes freely whenever they like.
Of course Dublin still has big changes to make in terms of adequate cycle paths etc for the future; but theres been fantastic progress in fairness. I returned to Dublin last week (as i live abroad now) and couldn’t help but smile at the amount of people cycling around the city. It gives such an added buzz to the place. I hope it continues at the strength that it does and applause to those to put focus on making it happen
What new cycleways? The unnecessary canal one is the only new one and that white elephant goes nowhere and isn’t used much.
In reality DCC has done nothing to make cycling safer. Most cycle lanes are full of glass and parked cars.
The amount of parked cars in cycle lanes is crazy. Its grand though because they have their Hazard lights on FFS. Probably the same drivers that complain about cyclists on the road.
Indeed – there is a lot of glass in the cycle lanes as well these days. Dangerous, as it makes you swerve into traffic. Pubs should be made clean up their front road space.
Dublin needs laws governing cyclists.
Cyclists should not be allowed to block roads by riding in double file.
Cyclists should be forced to use the cycle lane if one is there.
I have lost track of the number of times I have seen cyclists riding side by side blocking all of the traffic just for the craic. They’re think they are holier than thou and they’re out of control.
Cycling two-a-breast is perfectly legal and a lot safer for everyone on the road, plus waiting ten seconds to overtake two cyclist quicker is safer than potentially dangerously overtaking two cyclists cycling single file. Cycle lanes where mandatory until late 2012 when the law was changed. In my personal opinion, cyclists are safer on the roads as you are more visible to motorist. Cyclist should also respect the ROTR as they are there for everyones safety.
“out of control”… really? ?
Two abreast is legal.
Forced to use cycle lanes?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ
This explains why cyclists don’t hug the kerb when they cycle and indeed cycle two abreast: http://cyclingsavvy.org/hows-my-driving/
Some of the cycle lanes are also lethal with drains in the middle of them and dangerous surfaces due to lack of maintenance. There are also situations in some places where there are cycle lanes just don’t continue for long enough and force the cyclist back on the road abruptly coming up to dangerous junctions. I would imagine most cyclists would prefer to ride on cycle paths the whole time but in a lot of cases around Dublin it is far safer to cycle in bus lanes or on the road.
Also Jack, just to follow on from your “cyclists should not be allowed block roads” comment, this is an absolutely ridiculous statement. What people do not realise is that Cyclists are part of / and are traffic too, treat a cyclist (or group) exactly as you would a tractor, slow moving vehicle, moped, etc. Regarding the ROTR, if everyone respects them, then we’ll all get along better.
Most times a cyclist or cyclists will cycle as quick, if not quicker, in the city center than cars, buses etc.
And I’ve lost track of the number of cars parked in cycle lanes.
After Luas cross city cars will most likely only be able to drive on the city edges anyway. If DCC were truly committed to reducing the amount of cars in the city surely there would be free park and ride facilities? Mr Keegan has destroyed Dún Laoghaire and is now The City Manager. It won’t be long until Grafton street becomes a wasteland filled with free pop-up shops
Great to see Dublin leading the way in this area. Energy Elephant is just one of Ireland’s new startups dedicated to helping people understand their energy bills.
Most people and businesses find their energy bills difficult to understand and do not realise the insights that can be derived from them.
have your say