Cork City Council has started the preparation of a new Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028. The Council has prepared a Draft plan that builds on a series of strategic themes including compact growth, the 15-minute city, climate change, social inclusion, sustainable and active travel, providing homes, economy, health, education, biodiversity, placemaking and sport and recreation.

This briefing note will highlight the high-level points Cork Cycling Campaign members and supporters may wish to include in their own personal submission to the Draft City Development Plan. Link to public consultation platform.

The public consultation period is open until October 4th and we encourage all members and supporters to take some time over the coming days to make a submission.

This Development Plan will shape how the expanded city will develop up to the year 2028 and is particularly important from a number of perspectives; most notably the worsening climate crisis and the post pandemic approach to social and economic recovery.

It is vitally important that the momentum of recent positive changes regarding mobility and active travel in the city is maintained and accelerated. We believe that a continuation of these positive changes will also have knock on positive effects for climate change and a reduction to our transport emissions. Growth in the number of people cycling is not only limited to climate action. More people cycling means less congestion, less air pollution, less demand for parking spaces, and healthier communities.

We ask you to consider including points and observations on these issues:

1. Climate Change

The worsening climate change crisis is the defining societal issue of our generation. c. 40% of Ireland’s emissions come from transport. It is important to note how cycling can play a significant part in reducing these emissions. However, enabling modal share shifts from private cars to bicycles for short trips in the city requires:

• The provision of well-connected and segregated cycle routes;
• The provision of high-quality public bike parking across the city;
• The provision of bike-related facilities at trip destinations (lockers, showers, bike parking)
• A reduction in vehicular speeds in most urban areas and limiting through-traffic on certain routes.

2. Cycling Share Target for Cork

We believe that the CMATS baseline of 1% and target of 4% is inappropriate and should not be referenced in the City Development Plan. By choosing more realistic mode share targets for cycling, the City Development Plan will ensure that Cork can be marketed as a forward-looking and progressive city. We suggest from our calculations that a general Cork City target mode share of between 13% and 20% by 2028 is achievable, based on the current growth trajectory.

3. Infrastructure

We commend Cork City Council for the significant improvements to the cycle network in the last 12 months. That said, many people living in the city do not have access to safe cycle routes and large parts of the city are not appealing to people who may wish to cycle.

We feel that the focus now needs to shift towards providing cycle routes and not cycle lanes. These routes need to connect into the existing network. Major artery routes need to be of high quality and segregated by hard infrastructure (kerbing, etc). A clear roadmap needs to be provided for what routes will be delivered over the lifetime of the City Development Plan.

Particular focus needs to be afforded to the northside of the city as it is less served by existing cycle infrastructure.

4. Car Free Day

We feel that regular car-free days in the City centre would provide an attractive and unique experience in our city that would both encourage more people to travel into the city centre and promote a greater transport modal shift towards active travel. Car-Free days are proven to be a popular event in many cities across Europe as evidenced by EU Mobility Week car-free day events and World Car Free Day. Car Free Days are an effective means of promoting a change in mindset to reduce reliance and use of cars within the city.

5. 15 min city

We believe that the 15-minute city concept is achievable for all city neighbourhoods by adopting a targeted approach to introduce key elements of cycling infrastructure, such as safe roundabouts and intersections, segregated cycle routes, lower speed limits, filtered permeability, and improved design which minimizes conflict points between pedestrians and cyclists.

6. Lee to Sea

The Lee to Sea Greenway presents a significant opportunity for Cork. We feel that the Lee to Sea Greenway needs to be included as a specific transport objective and a plan is presented for route selection, funding, and construction.

Enter the public consultation platform here.