CEO of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham, and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, as details of the Walking and Cycling Index were announced.

Cork joins largest active travel survey

A walking, wheeling and cycling survey is to be the first one undertaken in Cork, it was announced this week.

The Walking and Cycling Index, previously the Bike Life report, will include the Cork metropolitan area incorporating Midleton, Carriagline and Ballincollig.

The index will be expanded this year to include Cork as well as other cities like Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Details were revealed on Tuesday by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan. The NTA said it will work in partnership with sustainable transport charity Sustrans to carry out the “biggest ever survey of walking, wheeling, and cycling in Ireland”.

The results, the NTA said, will provide high quality evidence on people’s participation in, and attitudes to walking, wheeling, or cycling - what barriers exist for them and what would help them walk, wheel and cycle more. This data will inform policy decisions and help support better planning for walking, wheeling and cycling in Cork, and meet ambitious climate action plan targets. It will be the first time collecting such in depth data in Cork, the NTA said.

18 cities and city regions across Ireland and the UK already participate in the Index. Approximately 1,100 people in each of the Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford metropolitan areas, representative of all residents, not just those who walk or cycle, will be surveyed.

Following the survey, individual Reports will be prepared and will be published in early 2024 for each of the metropolitan areas. Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan said: ”I very much welcome the NTA’s decision to extend the Walking and Cycling Index to many of our regional cities. The Index will provide the information we need to put in place the walking, cycling and wheeling infrastructure that people want so that they can have the choice to switch away from cars on some journeys. We have a unique opportunity to use the data and information from the Index to create truly sustainable communities and help reimagine our cities for a net-zero future.”

CEO of the NTA, Anne Graham said: “The NTA is delighted to expand the Walking and Cycling Index to include Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford metropolitan areas.

“The rollout of Ireland’s biggest ever survey into walking, wheeling, and cycling will help provide us with the information we need to plan for the future. By gaining key insights into how people make active travel a part of their daily journey across our cities, we can rollout additional pedestrian and cycling infrastructure that attracts more people to choose walking, cycling, and wheeling.”