Cyclist.ie, in collaboration with An Taisce, made a submission today (Friday 5th August 2016) in regard to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s preparations for a new Statement of Strategy for 2017 – 2019. The meaning of the Statement of Strategy is explained on the Department’s website here.

The main point in our submission was that over the last seven years, there has been minimal priority given to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s: Smarter Travel - A Sustainable Transport Future A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009-2020 and the National Cycle Policy Framework 2009-2020 (NCPF) - both available here. These complementary policies were meant to mark a switching point in the direction Irish transport policy was taking – i.e. towards lower CO2 (and other) emissions, a lower dependence on fossil energy and a far greater emphasis on creating settlements which are sustainable in any meaningful sense of the term (and hence safely walkable and cycleable). Additionally, these policies were meant to support the nurturing of a healthier population where obesity and overweight levels decreased, rather than increased. Therefore it is imperative that these two policy documents / frameworks are accorded the priority they are due in terms of political action and funding.

Our full submission can be read below (PDF).

The image above is by the fabulous Andy Singer. It captures much of what we articulate in our submissions.