We approached the Cork Cycling Campaign in 2020 to discuss the widening infrastructure gap between the Northside of the city and the Southside. We are enthused by the increased segregated cycle tracks throughout the city, and the number of interconnected greenways available. However, we identified a lack of ambition to deliver the same in our beautiful side of the city! We were happy to join the Cork Cycling Campaign to make these improvements happen, and thus a new working group was born. We’ve been ramping up our efforts in 2022, creating a new email address, partaking in consultations and beginning the process of engaging with Cork City Council on outstanding issues of import. 

The Northside of Cork City has traditionally been working class and has had a rich relationship with the bicycle! Whether it be Echo Boys, Messengers or simply the less expensive means of moving around the city, the bicycle was a primary form of transport in the early part of the 20th century as the city was developed. We’re hoping to bring cycling back to its working-class roots, to showcase it as a real alternative to the car and to explore all the benefits of cycling including less pollution, greater mobility and (of course) inexpensive parking!

The e-Bike has been transformative for cycling the hilly Northside. With support from your battery, the hills are no longer the challenge they were. Equally, e-Bikes allow those with less mobility or fitness to cycle comfortably to their destination - people with disabilities, and older persons can engage with cycling without concerns of mobility. If the big hills scare you away from getting back on the saddle, fear not! There are a wide range of e-Bikes available to suit your needs and to give you the boost you might need to tackle even Fair Hill! 

We have observed the uptick in cyclists throughout the Northside. From Farranree to St. Luke’s and Blackpool to Shanakiel, there is a revolution occurring! More people are migrating to the bicycle as the quicker, cleaner, less expensive form of transport in the city. We’d love to see more people engage with the Cork Cycling Campaign to deliver equity on both sides of the Lee and to gather a critical mass of impassioned cyclists seeking improvements in infrastructure in their communities. 

We look forward to engaging Cork City Council, local businesses, cyclists and all road users across the Northside and to the realisation of an integrated cycle network across our city. If you are a cyclist, come join our efforts and be part of the change our city needs to see!  Join us or reach out!

Misconceptions about Cycling in the Northside 

 It’s too hilly! 

We certainly have, ahem, unique topography on the Northside! The Northside of the city has been traversed by bikes for well over a century. Thankfully, however, technology has come a long way to helping make the journey more comfortable! Firstly, e-Bikes are a good option for those with decreased mobility or for whom the big hills might be a bit intimidating. If you want to keep it simple with a standard bicycle, bear in mind that many are significantly lighter than they once were and have gear systems that can help you tackle the big hills. We’d also invite you to think about your commute. Maybe the trip to and from your school for drop-offs doesn’t have a hill. Or the cycle to your nearest shop. Perhaps you only visit town once or twice a week or your commute only involves one big hill! Either way, don’t let the hills scare you off - there are plenty of ways to mitigate even the largest hills!   

There aren’t enough cycle lanes

We agree. Cork City Council agrees, and we’re working on it! Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cork City Council has been taking steps to expand the cycle network across the city. We’ve seen the addition of cycle tracks in Mulgrave Road, Churchfield Road, Kilmore Road and more! We’ll continue to work on improving the infrastructure, but we could always use more advocates! Remember, too, that a cyclist is a road user with as much entitlement to the road as any vehicle. It can be daunting to share the road with cars, vans and buses, but confidence and good safety practices will ensure that you can navigate any road safely, regardless of segregated cycle lanes.

It’s too expensive to cycle! 

There are absolutely upfront costs associated with cycling. Some essentials (we recommend a helmet, high-visibility jacket, rain gear and a good set of lights) are somewhat unavoidable. However, you don’t have to start cycling by purchasing a costly bike or the latest spandex suits! We recommend trying out the TFI bikes in the city, borrowing one from a friend, renting one for the day or purchasing an inexpensive second-hand bike to start. Once you’ve decided to invest in a bike, there are schemes like the Cycle2Work scheme to help with the costs or there is a very busy second-hand market for bikes of all kinds. Once you’ve got a bike, helmet, lights & high-visibility, the costs are minimal from there. A regular service can be a worthwhile investment, but there are also organisations like Cork Community Bikes who do regular workshops to empower you to do your own maintenance and repair. Best of all, there are no petrol costs or motor tax to pay, so that initial investment really is a once-off. Cycling can be a very inexpensive way to travel around the city, saving thousands on insurance costs, public transport fees and more per year! 

I wouldn’t be able to carry the kids/the dog/the shopping! 

You’d be surprised by how much you can pack onto your bike. A basket, some decent panniers and a child seat and you can carry around just about anything! There are also cargobikes on the market. These bikes will traditionally have a larger space for moving around people, pets, shopping, tools and more! The Government has announced in 2022 an increased limit of €3,000 for those wanting to make the leap to a bicycle with additional capacity. A little creativity and vision will help you pack all you need onto your bike. Don’t forget to check out local mechanics who can often create custom items so you can get you and your guitar to your lesson or you and the cat to the vet!