The Department of Transport spent 1% of its land transport budget on cycling infrastructure last year, according to an estimate from cycling advocates who want a tenfold increase in this month’s Budget. Cyclist.ie, the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network, says a 10% allocation of the land transport budget for cycling last year would have seen €122m spent on bicycle infrastructure in 2018. However, in a pre-budget submission seen by the Irish Examiner, the lobby group estimates the amount spent on cycling alone amounted to €12.64m in 2018. “Health Minister Simon Harris is surely aware of the numerous studies documenting the benefits of cycling for physical and mental health. “We expect that Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe realises that cycling offers the highest return on investment of any transport expenditure.

Source: Irish Examiner October 01, 2019 04:41 UTC