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SUBMISSION ON PROPOSED MATERIAL ALTERATION REPORT ON THE MAYNOOTH AND ENVIRONS LAP 2025-2031

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The submission below was forwarded to Kildare County Council in early December.

SUMMARY

  • Maynooth Cycling Campaign supports the retention of all of the removed permeability and cycling measures on the grounds that their deletion is contrary to government policy on climate, health and road safety.

Retention of Permeability Measures (Table 7.3)

Perm 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 28, 31, 41, 42, 44, 46, 52, 54, 61, 63, 75, 86, 93, 94, 97, 98, 113, 125, 128, 134, 137, 139, 

Retention of Cycling Measures (Table 7.3)

Cycle 20, 52, 57

We support the retention of all of the permeability and cycling measures. There are plenty of existing examples of permeability in Maynooth. While some are not so good in terms of width, most permeability links are good to very good and are positive features for the residential estates in question.

  • Although not explicitly appearing in the LAP, the LAP references the targets for future modes of travel in the Maynooth & Environs Area Based Transport Assessment. Unfortunately these do not make mathematical sense given that the totals sum up in excess of 100%. Best national and international practice is that they amount to 100% and if one mode of travel increases in percentage, another mode must decrease by an equivalent amount. Targets at a micro level (at town level) rather than at national level must be included in the LAP in order to allow government to monitor and report progress on an annual basis. 

The proposed deletion of the permeability measures will make it more difficult to achieve any target of increased active travel. 

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  • Maynooth Cycling Campaign suggests that Kildare County Council could have done much more to prepare local people for the prospect of  increased permeability as it failed to make the case for their inclusion in advance of the publication of the Local Area Plan.
  • Although child safety was cited as a reason by residents and parents opposed to  some of the permeability measures, international experience shows that dedicated cycling and walking linkages promote child safety by keeping them away from busy roads and intersections.  

OPPOSITION TO CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE

Maynooth has a track record of opposition to proposed cycle infrastructure, especially where it involves reallocation of space from cars. This was the case 

  • On the Straffan Road when officials proposed to remove the turn right turning lane into residential estates.
  • On Carton Avenue when officials proposed to turn the footpath into a shared path.
  • On Parsons Street when it was proposed to trial the restriction of motorised traffic to flow in one direction.

Albert Einstein is reputed to have said “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Kildare County Council should have learnt from these episodes that residents, especially drivers,  would not meekly accept its plans for active travel without any opposition. 

Kildare County Council  should also have learnt from the report Active travel infrastructure design and implementation: Insights from behavioral science by the ESRI in conjunction with Fingal County Council. The report looked at the results of 180 international active travel schemes. There was lots of opposition to the schemes initially with people expecting negative effects on traffic and local businesses. The  experience internationally, however, is that when implemented, active travel schemes were positively received. Most business owners associate car drivers with bigger spending. However, while active travellers spend less money per visit to local businesses, they visit businesses more often and so end up spending more.

How to allay fears?  Everyone is subject to  inherent bias. People make a judgment on something based on their beliefs or previous experience. Few people though have experience of the wider benefits of increased cycling but most feel that they will be disadvantaged by it. The researchers also found a second bias – the primary effect bias. Primary effect bias is where If a person’s initial reaction to a proposal is negative, it is then very difficult to get them to change their mind. Most people do not like change and fear the worst of change in their circumstances. When change is implemented, people find that it is not as bad as feared. 

To overcome bias resulting in opposition to their proposals,  Kildare County Council must do more to make the positive case for change. In particular, there has never been any attempt to summarise the transport strategy Maynooth & Environs Area Based Transport Assessment into a document which is circulated to every home in Maynooth and which explains in plain terms what is planned for the community, why it is necessary and what are the impacts both good and bad.   

This submission concerns four areas – Targets for Travel Modes and three areas where the deletion of permeability and cycling measures are not in accordance with government strategies and policies, namely in the areas of  Climate Action, Health and Road Safety.

TARGETS FOR TRAVEL MODES

The LAP does not include any targets for different modes of travel. Instead it references the targets set out in the Maynooth & Environs Area Based Transport Assessment (and the County Development Plan). See copy of Table 2-1 from the Assessment.

Table 2-1 Journeys to Work Share Targets to County Kildare in draft CDP

The Assessment includes existing modal splits for transport and as well as future targets. If a mode of transport increases, another mode or modes must reduce by an equivalent amount in order for all modes to sum up to 100%. Targets should be challenging and achievable but the future targets make no sense as they amount to more than 100%. See Table 2-1 above  from the Assessment. This is not in line with best practice either nationally or internationally. Targets at a micro level (at town level) must be included in the LAP in order to allow government to monitor and report progress on an annual basis. Regardless of the future targets, the deletion of permeability measures will make achieving them even  more difficult.

CLIMATE ACTION

Climate is one of the major threats to the future of Kildare, Ireland and the rest of the world.  The Dáil formally recognised this threat when it declared a climate emergency in 2019.  Kildare County Council also recognised the climate emergency in a vote by its elected members. The government, representing the people of Ireland, is legally committed to a 50% reduction in carbon emissions from the transport sector by 2030. The Climate Plan details a wide range of measures which includes a significant increase in the level of active travel and a consequent reduction in use of private cars.

In the 1970s,  the Netherlands was the first country to explicitly attempt to decrease car use and to increase the level of cycling.   The first two attempts to increase cycling had mixed results but didn’t lead to more cycling overall.  

In 1979 Delft was the third city to try to increase cycling and the authorities there took a different and innovative area wide approach. The reason for this area-wide experiment was the increasing modal share of private motor traffic. The city already had an  existing cycle network but Delft had noted that there were a lot of missing links. A consultant summarised the need for the Delft Cycle Plan as “The local government wished to increase the modal share of cycling!”. The two essential elements were they planned an area wide network and identified the missing links.  This was the most successful plan to significantly increase the level of cycling and formed the model for other Dutch cities to follow for the next forty years.

 Although considerably smaller than Delft, Maynooth has a rudimentary network with segregated or shared  cycle infrastructure on the Straffan, Kilcock, Moyglare Roads and Mariavilla. Like Delft, residential estates in Maynooth do not generally require dedicated cycle facilities but if Kildare County Council is serious about significantly increasing the level of cycling in Maynooth, it must follow the best international practice in the Netherlands and address the lack of permeability. 

The Climate Plans and associated documentation set out a comprehensive list of measures required to reduce carbon emissions. The Climate Plan 2024 Annex of Actions identified local authorities as having a key role in developing cycle infrastructure and achieving modal shift. 

Climate Action Plan 2024

15.2.4 Shift 15.2.4.1 

Active Travel Infrastructure and Accessibility Work Programme 

The provision of safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure is key to encouraging modal shift away from private car use and towards walking and cycling. The role of local authorities in the development of active travel infrastructure cannot be overstated ….

While the use of private cars is not the only source of carbon emissions, it is a significant one. The widespread deletion of permeability measures by councillors is contrary to the government’s Climate Action Plans as it will have a negative impact on a proven strategy to increase the level of cycling. 

In a recent interview on RTE, the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council Marie Donnelly said that the main reason for Ireland not meeting its climate targets is due to transport, where emissions are “stubbornly high”. 

The  Climate Advisory Council has reported that Ireland is unlikely to achieve the required 50% reduction in emissions by 2030. It has also  highlighted that emissions have continued to increase in 2023 rather than decrease. It warns that the cost of failing to meet Ireland 2030 climate targets could exceed €8 billion. This is the equivalent of more than 60% of the recent Apple windfall. As several countries like Ireland are unlikely to meet their emission target, it is likely that more countries will be chasing carbon credits than will be offering them. As a result, the cost of carbon credits could rise significantly.

To maximise reduction of carbon emissions, local authorities must offer the community an alternative  mode of travel to the private car. As the inclusion of permeability measures is critical to the achievement of government targets, the permeability measures should be retained. 

Furthermore, Kildare County Council selected Maynooth as its model Decarbonisation Zone. As one of approximately 26 Decarbonation Zones, Maynooth is intended to be a role model for other areas within the County and indeed within the country. Blocking the development of cycling and walking networks by the deletion of permeability links will impact on decarbonising elsewhere in Kildare and in the rest of the country and would be contrary to the demonstration of best Irish practice.

HEALTH 

How active are Irish people? The National Survey of Lifestyles Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN 2007) showed that only 41% of Irish adults took part in moderate or strenuous physical activity for at least 20 minutes three or more times a week. 

The Health Behaviours in School Children (HBSC, 2006) survey revealed that over half of primary school age children did not achieve the recommended level of physical activity. By 15 years of age, almost nine out of 10 girls and seven out of 10 boys don’t achieve the recommended level.

The cost of health care provision in Ireland due to physical inactivity is not available but on the basis of international research, physical inactivity has been estimated to cost about €150-300 per citizen per year. In a worst case scenario this could imply a cost in Ireland of approximately €1.5 billion per year. (WHO, 2006 Physical Activity and Health in Europe Evidence for Action) 

A fundamental part of improving community health is ensuring that people are enabled to be more active. Sports clubs and gyms encourage mobility but large sections of the population do not take part in formal or informal  forms of exercise. The countries which are most successful at encouraging mobility, build it into everyday movement by enabling active travel. 

HSE and Healthy Ireland

The Health Service Executive (HSE) manages public health services in Ireland. One service, Healthy Ireland brings together stakeholders including  government departments, public sector organisations, businesses, communities and individuals to improve health and wellbeing and reduce the risks posed to future generations.

Healthy Ireland’s Get Ireland Active!  – National Physical Activity Plan for Ireland

The National Physical Activity Plan for Ireland sets out a strategy to reduce inactivity in communities. It states:

Promoting the use of the natural and built environment and promoting active transport are the most practical and sustainable ways to increase physical activity as part of everyday routine. The built environment is an important determinant of physical activity behaviour. The way the built environment is designed, planned and built can also act as a barrier to being active and can reinforce sedentary behaviour and car dependence.                                                            (My emphasis)

Action Area 4 deals with the Environment. It includes 7 actions, of which three list local authorities as the lead partner and  a further two list local authorities as partners.

National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027

The National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027 highlights the Leading Role for Local Authorities:

Local Authorities are key stakeholders in the context of the public spaces which are widely used for sport and physical activity. They manage the public parks; they are responsible for the local road network; 

For the above reasons, we believe that Local Authorities are well positioned to be charged within the policy with a formal leadership role in facilitating the drive towards greater participation at a local level throughout the population. 

  • The development and evaluation of interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour in children and adults is a priority. 
  • There is a growing body of evidence linking sedentary behaviour with chronic disease morbidity and mortality in adults and preliminary evidence to suggest sedentary behaviour may also be a health risk in children and young people. 

Healthy Kildare Plan 2022-26

 One of the priorities of the Healthy Kildare Plan 2022-26 is Healthy Spaces and Places. The High Level Goals  includes 

Improve sustainability and longevity of programmes by encouraging active travel ………

Theme: Healthy Places and Environments 

Strategic Objective 6: To support the development of new spaces, places and environments that promote positive Health and Wellbeing across Kildare 

Key Action 6.3 To inform and support the development of greenways, cycleways and walkways across the County and promote sustainable transport 

Successive health policies and strategies all stress the important role of local authorities in increasing community health through enabling active travel.

While elected councillors have a role in representing the views of the public (which councillors have done in relation to the issue of permeability in the Maynooth LAP,) councillors also have a responsibility in implementing central government policies as well as its own policies on health. As a result, the  proposed permeability measures should be retained in the LAP.

ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY

After several years when Ireland improved road safety, the number of road fatalities increased significantly and is unlikely to achieve the European target of a 50% reduction in road fatalities by 2030 relative to the base year of 2019. Much of the  existing cycle infrastructure is low quality. Moyglare Road shared path is not fit for purpose at peak times. Cyclists need more and better options to reduce the risk of collisions.  
Child safety was cited as a reason by some residents and parents opposed to the permeability measures. International experience shows the opposite.  One of the drivers of change in the Netherlands in the 1970s was the scale of road fatalities. The deaths of over 400 children per annum gave rise to a widespread campaign “Stop de Kindermoord” or “Stop the Child Murder. The provision of permeability links in Maynooth would offer people – young and old –  an alternative to  roads with either low quality cycling infrastructure or with no dedicated infrastructure. The absence of such links will endanger an increased number of vulnerable road users.

NEWSLETTER NOTES for DECEMBER 2024

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General Election 2024

By the time that this appears in print, the results of the general election will be known. Three of  the sitting TDs are running for election so there will be at least two new TDs in North Kildare. Maynooth Cycling Campaign would like to congratulate the winners and commiserate with the losers. 

Maynooth Cycling Campaign  – Public  Meeting 14th November 

Maynooth Cycling Campaign held a public meeting in the ICA Hall on 14th November. We would like to thank those who came along to the meeting.  Among the issues discussed was Cycling Without Age (see next item below), Priorities for 2025, Amended Maynooth and Environs LAP,  Priorities for 2025 and General Election 2024.

Cycling Without Age

One of the main items on the agenda was Cycling Without Age. We were happy to report that the distance travelled by the trishaw in 2024 had increased to more than 300 km. We would like to thank Hans and the rest of the St. John of God/Genil Training for working with us in offering cycle tours to people who would have difficulties in cycling on their own. We have had a great response from volunteers who would like to be trained as pilots. The big challenge for 2025 is how to attract clients from the general public. A number of ideas were put forward at the meeting. These will be developed over the winter months and, hopefully, implemented in the coming year.  

Local Area Plan – Deletion of Proposed Permeability Measures

The Amended Maynooth and Environs Local Area Plan is currently open until the 6th December for consultation by the general public. The main issue for transport remains the deletion of the permeability measures. Maynooth Cycling Campaign opposes their deletion on the grounds that the deletion of such measures is contrary to government policy on climate, health and road safety. 

Maynooth likes to see itself as a progressive town with two third level colleges, good rail links to Dublin  but appears to be turning into just another anti-cycling town which is “addicted to fossil fuel” and which pays lip service to climate change. How else would you categorise a town where councillors 

  • Oppose the removal of  a right turning lane into residential estates (on the Straffan Road)..
  • Oppose officials’ proposal to turn a footpath  into a shared path (in Carton Avenue).
  • Oppose the proposed trial when it was proposed to restrict motorised traffic to flow in one direction (on Parsons Street) .

Maynooth Cycling Campaign suggests that Kildare County Council is responsible in part for the level of opposition to increased permeability as it failed to make the case for their inclusion in advance of the publication of the Local Area Plan. 

Climate Change

In last month’s Newsletter Notes, we included early reports of over fifty deaths from flooding in the Valencia region as a result of heavy rainfall. This loss of life turned out to be a gross underestimate. It turns out that the number of fatalities was 216. Almost half were over 70 years of age which suggests that elderly people are a group who are at  high risk from climate change. It is ironic that many of them were trapped in their cars trying to flee the flood waters. 

Ireland too has seen flooding but not on the same scale as Valencia. In Listowel 70 homes were evacuated in the worst flooding for a generation. In Killybegs 16 houses and nine businesses were flooded. In England and Wales both experienced severe flooding in the same storm.

Cop29 has just finished in Baku. It was reported that 1,773 fossil fuel  lobbyists attended the conference – outnumbering the number of delegates from countries participating in the conference. Despite all the talks over years , global fossil fuel emissions continue to rise. The oil companies knew that their businesses had an impact on the climate, but chose to continue plying their trade. They are doing the same today.  

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is a non-party independent local lobby group advocating for  better cycling infrastructure in Kildare. ​​

NEWSLETTER NOTES for NOVEMBER 2024

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Maynooth Cycling Campaign  – Public  Meeting 14th November 

Maynooth Cycling Campaign will be holding a PUBLIC MEETING on Thursday 14th November at 8:00pm in the ICA Hall. The Agenda will include Cycling without Age, the latest on the Maynooth Local Area Plan, and Campaign priorities for 2025. EVERYONE WELCOME!!!

Representative on KCC Transport Strategic Policy Committee 

The Public Participation Network (PPN) has invited volunteers to represent the PPN on various Strategic Policy Committees of Kildare County Council. After the council elections in 2019, our Chair was elected to the Transport SPC  but was forced to resign as the Council introduced a requirement to prevent a member of the Transport SPC from also sitting on the Sustainability Transport Forum which had replaced/incorporated the Kildare Cycle Forum. As the Maynooth Cycling representative was the only person who was forced to resign, we are seeking removal of this requirement.  Maynooth Cycling Campaign will be seeking election to the new Transport SPC and will be looking for the support of PPN groups.

Accidents KSIs

The Road Safety Authority has recently been criticised by politicians and the general public about the rise in road fatalities over the past two years. This comes after a long period of time when the number of road fatalities annually were decreasing.Elsewhere, other authorities do not assess the safety of roads on the basis of the number of fatalities but of a combination of road fatalities and the seriously injured. A recent report by Ciarán‏ Ferrie on IrishCycle.com website looked at the record of fatalities and seriously injured (KSI).  

IMAGE: Deaths and Serious Injuries 2004 to 2023 (Source: RSA Annual Collision Reports)

The report revealed that although the number of deaths fell after 2013, the number of serious injuries have risen significantly.

Local Area Plan – Deletion of Proposed Permeability Measures

Councillors have given their response to the September Report by the KCC Chief Executive on the LAP submissions. The main  outcome was that a representative from each of the four political parties proposed to delete several of the permeability proposals.  

The councillors and the number of deletions that they proposed are given below.

CouncillorNo. of Proposed Permeability Links DeletedPartyNo. of Party Members in MD
Naoise Ó Cearúil46Fianna Fáil3
Tim Durkan15Fine Gael3
Angela Feeney19Labour1
Peter Melrose/Aidan Farrelly15Soc Dems2
Other Councillors Independent1
Total  10

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is disappointed that an overwhelming majority of councillors supported the deletion of more than ⅓ of the over 140 measures proposed to encourage walking and cycling. The action of councillors is hard to reconcile with their vote to recognise a climate (and biodiversity) emergency in June 2019 with the agreement of all members and with fifty one people currently missing in Spain after severe flooding.  

Irish Rail and Access for All

Anyone travelling regularly by train would notice that Irish Rail regularly gives updates on the location of “Out of Order” lifts at stations. In mid-October, four stations were listed –  Bayside, Tara, Grand Canal and  Park West. Out of order lifts are not a huge problem for able bodied people but can be a critical issue for some people with disabilities. We will be keeping on eye on what progress Irish Rail makes in repairing them 

Maynooth Cycling Campaign welcomes Irish Rail’s proposal to provide lifts at Maynooth railway station. Lifts will enable people with disabilities to purchase a ticket and then access both platforms rather than just the  platform adjacent to the ticket office.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is a non-party independent local lobby group advocating for  better cycling infrastructure in Kildare. ​​

NEWSLETTER NOTES for OCTOBER 2024

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Dáil Bike Shed

There has been a lot of comment in the media about the extraordinary cost of a new bike shed at the Dáil which cost approximately 336,000 euros. The Minister for Finance was quoted as describing it “as a total waste of money”. The Minister should recognise that cyclists as well as car drivers, require parking facilities for their chosen mode of transport. The issue is not that people require cycle parking but whether what was provided was value for money.

The bike shed was designed to cater for some 36 bikes which amounts to 9,333 euros for each bike. TDs are looking for the Office of Public Works to appear before a Dáil committee to account for this expenditure. In contrast, five years ago Utrecht built a state of the art multi storey bike parking facility for 12,500 bikes at a cost of 30 million euros which works out at a cost of 2,400 euro for each bike space.

Cycling Without Age

Despite the wet weather over the summer months, the Cycling Without Age trishaw has had good usage over the summer months thanks to Genil Training/St. John of God. However, the objective was that pilots would volunteer at weekends to offer rides to members of the public who could not cycle for whatever reason. While Cycling Without Age has received broad public recognition and support, it has turned out to be a case of “Cycling Without Passengers”. Maynooth Cycling Campaign proposes to hold a public meeting in the near future to discuss where we go from here.

Trans Atlantic Way

Everyone has heard about the Wild Atlantic Way which links Donegal to Cork along some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery. While the Wild Atlantic Route was designed primarily for car drivers, most people are not aware that there is also a 2,400km cycle race called the TransAtlanticWay which follows the same route. It consists of a single self supported stage between Derry and Cork. The race is not aimed at the common cyclist – rather the focus is on endurance cyclists. The race for individual riders was recently won by Benny Cassidy who completed the longer Cu Chulainn route in 6 days. While road racing is not within the general focus of Maynooth Cycling Campaign, we have to admire the stamina of the cyclists who not only race but also have to carry their own gear.

Maynooth and Environs Local Area Plan (LAP) 2025-2031

Everyone in Maynooth is now aware that the Chief Executive of Kildare County Council has published her response to the LAP public consultation. It must be said that any changes accepted appear to be fairly minor.

After a briefing to advise councillors, councillors can agree motions in the next number of weeks to vary the report. Approving planning policy is a reserved function for elected councillors rather than elected officials but changes have to be agreed bya majority of councillors.

Dublin Traffic Management Plan

Dublin City Council has implemented the first stage of their traffic management plan which seeks to restrict traffic rat-running through Dublin City Centre. Despite alarms expressed by various car park operators, the sky has not fallen in.

The City Council published their first report into its operation and according to the IrishCycle.com website the findings include:

● Bus journey times have reduced by over 20%

● Footfall in Dublin City Centre is up

● Traffic levels in the centre section of the quays are down by more than 60%.

This is not a surprise to Campaign members as it follows similar experiences elsewhere.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is an non-party political cycling advocacy group.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign’s Political Asks

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SUMMARY

  1. Celbridge Road – our top priority is for the delivery of improved cycling and walking provision at  Celbridge Road where two primary schools are located.
  2. “Leprechaun” Climate Targets  – for Kildare County Council to get rid of “Leprechaun” Climate Targets -targets which are unachievable as adding up the percentage modes of travel comes to 150% rather than 100% of journeys.
  3. WHO’s H.E.A.T. tool – for Kildare County Council to introduce WHO’s H.E.A.T. tool to calculate the benefits of active travel schemes and to estimate reductions in carbon emissions as carried out in multiple countries.
  4. Reporting of Committee Minutes – for Kildare County Council to publish draft minutes of SPC and Sustainable Transport Forum meetings within 2 weeks as opposed to the current practice of circulating them nearly three months after the meeting.
  5. Kiss the Gates Goodbye – for Kildare County Council (1) to identify substandard accesses to greenways and other active travel routes which are barriers to entry by cyclists and mobility impaired people; and (2) to seek funding for their removal.
  6. Safety Concerns at Moyglare Educational Campus – we support the concerns of the three school principals as detailed in their letter dated 21st April to Kildare County Council re taking in charge, pedestrian crossing, shared paths and Moyglare Road traffic calming.

FURTHER DETAILS

1.         Celbridge Road

Celbridge Road forms part of the R405 regional road. Two primary schools open onto it – with more than 850 pupils attending Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich and Maynooth Educate Together. Kildare County Council  granted planning to them more than 20 years ago, yet planning permission was granted despite having no cycle facilities and substandard walking facilities. Kildare County Council proposed a scheme some three or four years ago – a design that we opposed on account of its very poor quality. The scheme has been redesigned but now has been held up for reasons of cost.

The EPA in their recent report on progress on meeting 2030 carbon reduction targets stated that even if everything proposed was actually carried out, Ireland’s emissions would still only reduce by 29% instead of 51%.  The continuing failure to provide quality walking and cycling to school cannot be allowed to continue – Celbridge Road should be the number one active travel priority. 

2.         “Leprechaun” Climate Targets 

As part of its action on Climate Change, the Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029 gives most recent estimates of how Kildare people travel using different modes. It also includes a number of targets for future change in modes of travel.

The baseline figures for existing modes were derived from the Census 2016 results. The baseline figures and proposed targets are as follows:

Mode of Travel To Work  Baseline    Target  

Walking		6%10%
Cycling1%20%
Bus5%13%
Train 5%14%
Car Share4%8%
Car74%50%
TOTAL95%115%
(Note – An estimated 4% of people were working from home giving a total of 99% with a 1% rounding error.)
Mode of Travel To Education  Baseline    Target  
Walk28%50%
Cycling2%15%
Public Transport20%25%
Car50%40%
TOTAL100%130%

The baseline travel percentages are fine. They essentially add up to 100% for travel to work and 100% for travel to education. The Census gives the actual numbers so, if you want, you can combine the work and education numbers and calculate the overall percentages.

The problem is with the targets. At the draft stage of the County Development Plan, Maynooth Cycling Campaign thought that it was an error  but after raising it for a second time, the Council stated that they should be

“…. aiming for as high as possible for the sustainable modes and less high for the unsustainable ones”.

This is true but the targets should also be “reasonable” and “achievable”. They should be challenging for those who have to achieve them but not something so unrealistic that those who have to achieve them, throw in the towel at the start.  The key principle is that the total target  percentages should add up to 100% so if you increase the percentage target for some modes of travel, you MUST decrease the percentage target for other modes of travel. The European Cyclists’ Federation which has more than 40 years of working for increased cycling  has identified monitoring and reporting as a key requirement in effecting modal change.  Adopting modal share percentages in excess of 100% makes no sense except as a “Get Out of Gaol” ticket for the future failure of KCC to deliver on the said targets. It will also impact  unfavourably on Kildare’s contribution to the Irish government’s commitment of a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.

Leprechaun economics was a term coined by Nobel winning economist Paul Krugman to describe the 26.3 per cent rise in Irish 2015 GDP, later revised to 34.4 per cent. The adoption of Leprechaun targets is related to Leprechaun economics in that both are factual but both have a tenuous link to reality. 

3.         WHO’s H.E.A.T. tool

The World Health Organisation (WHO) developed a spreadsheet to calculate the benefits of active travel schemes and to estimate reductions in carbon emissions.

In Kildare, there is rarely a measurement of existing levels of walking or cycling and no forecast for future use of proposed active travel infrastructure. As a result there is no benchmark to assess the success of a scheme or even to alert if levels of walking or cycling are reduced.

4.         Reporting of Committee Minutes

After committees meetings of, for example, SPC and Sustainable Transport Forum, Kildare County Council circulates draft minutes some 10-12 weeks later to committee members for review, The  minutes are then approved at the next meeting which often takes place 13 weeks after the previous one and may be uploaded to the Council website any time after that. Some minutes are  uploaded quickly afterwards while others are not uploaded unless someone draws attention to their absence.

There is no good reason why draft minutes could not be uploaded to the Council website within 2 weeks of a meeting. The current practice is indicative that the meeting is a talking shop and one where no followup actions are required to be carried out as a matter of urgency.

5.         Kiss the Gates Goodbye

Kildare County  Council, unlike many other local authorities,  has responsibility for very few roads or footways which contain barriers like kissing gates to active travel.

However as a Planning Authority, Kildare County Council has overseen and/or granted permission to Waterways Ireland for substandard accesses on and to the Royal and Grand Canals. In particular, there is a series of substandard accesses which are not to best international practice or meet Irish standards between Leixlip and Kilcock on the Royal Canal Greenway. Recent works on the Royal Canal at Louisa Bridge and on the Grand Canal at Sallins and elsewhere also ignore the advice by the Minister for Transport that accesses should be designed in line with the principles of universal access. The result is that Maynooth Cycling Campaign is unable to travel from Maynooth to Kilcock along the greenway with our Cycling Without Age trishaw.

Kildare County Council should identify substandard accesses to greenways and other active travel routes which are barriers to entry by cyclists and mobility impaired people, and seek funding for their removal.

6.        Safety Concerns at Moyglare Educational Campus

Kildare County Council should consider the concerns expressed by the school principals and propose how best to reduce the risk of harm to pupils.  In our view, Kildare County Council’s  choice of a shared path in a location with very high numbers of pedestrians was predictable – with pupils cycling on the road,  pupils cycling on the footpath opposite intended for pedestrians only and pupils taking alternative on-road routes where possible. Cyclists, elderly pedestrians and disability groups dislike shared paths. In Denmark and the Netherlands, the authorities segregate pedestrians and cyclists because of the risk of a collision arising from the different speeds. If Kildare County Council wants to emulate the level of cycling in such countries, councillors should not approve such schemes except in exceptional circumstances. It is accepted that there are locations where there are no reasonable alternatives.

MAYNOOTH CYCLING CAMPAIGN ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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Main Activities of Maynooth Cycling Campaign

  • Article submitted to the Maynooth Newsletter in most months
  • Attended meetings of the Maynooth Community Council
  • Represented the PPN on the Transport, Safety and Emergency Services SPC
  • Attended Board meetings of the Dublin Cycling Campaign CLG
  • Carried out bike counts in Maynooth primary and secondary schools
  • In January, resigned as Coordinator of the Finance and Membership Action Group of Cyclist.ie
  • In February, secured €1000 from Kildare Climate Action.
  • In March, secured funding of €1400rom Kildare Community grants and the Local Property Tax
  • In June, resigned from the SPC as not allowed to sit on both the SPC and the Sustainabile Transport Forum. Joined the latter.
  • In June, participated in the Community Council’s Picnic in the Park with the trishaw
  • In November, participated in Kildare Sports Activity Day in Maynooth University
  • In November, resigned from Dublin Cycling Campaign CLG due to differences of opinion.
  • Made a submission on the Maynooth Mill Street Active Travel Scheme

Restructuring

Cycle campaigning changed radically with the  restructuring of Cyclist.ie and transition from a federation of campaigns to the Irish Cycling Campaign, one national organisation.  It is unclear how many local campaigns will continue as they are or amalgamate with the Irish Cycling Campaign. Maynooth Cycling Campaign will make this decision in 2024.

Purchase of Trishaw

In the spring of 2023, Maynooth Cycling Campaign secured the last piece of the funding jigsaw for the purchase of the trishaw with funding from Kildare County Council to add to the funding from Kildare Sports Partnership and Healthy Kildare. We established a branch of Cycling Without Age and now share the trishaw with St. John of God/Genil Training in Maynooth.

Transport Strategic Policy Committee (SPC)

At the SPC meeting in February, after three frustrating years, Maynooth Cycling Campaign finally succeeded in including a proposal on Bike (Bunkers) Hangars in the SPC Work Programme . However, with just over one year remaining to the next Council elections, the chances of any progress on Bunkers through the SPC are remote.

Sustainability Forum

Like the SPC, the agenda is determined by officials and the Chair rather than external representatives such as Maynooth Cycling Campaign. The September meeting included an item on Bike Libraries and cycling on quiet country roads, also known as Rothar Roads. 

As a cycling organisation, Maynooth Cycling Campaign had already heard talks on Bike Libraries on two previous occasions. The proposal was well received by the councillors present but there no indication that Kildare County Council would provide any funding for them.

In general, Maynooth Cycling Campaign is not in favour of Rothar Roads except where there are very low levels of traffic. In the past it had proposed cycling on quiet roads as part of a submission on the Barrow Greenway, but this was rejected by the Council. On Rothar Roads, councillors expressed differing views. Despite this, the Chair’s summary was that the forum was generally in favour. Maynooth Cycling Campaign  asked for a vote as not everyone had expressed an opinion. While the Chair initially accepted the proposal for a vote, the decision was overturned. It was decided that both opinions would be submitted to the SPC.

Cycling without Age

As part of our commitment to Cycling for All, Maynooth Cycling Campaign called for volunteers to pilot the trishaw and 12 people responded. The first batch were trained by Clara Clark, the founder of Cycling without Age Ireland. Subsequently, the Chair undertook two training programmes and is now able to train our own volunteers locally.

While we have secured our trishaw and trained our pilots, we have been unsuccessful in attracting the general public to use our service. This remains the biggest channel for 2024. We closed down in November for the winter months but propose to reopen in the spring.  

Bikeweek Film Screening of MOTHERLAND

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The screening of the film MOTHERLOAD on Thursday16th, as part of Bikeweek, has regrettably been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience.

It is hoped to show it at a later date in the year.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign – Public Meeting

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Maynooth Cycling Campaign will be holding an in-person public meeting at 8:00pm on Thursday 26th October in the ICA Hall, Leinster Street.

The agenda will include asks for candidates in the Local Government Elections in May 2024 and developments in cycle campaigning nationally which will have ramifications for Maynooth. There will also be a report on the second meeting of the Kildare Sustainability Forum. If you are in favour of everyday cycling and already cycle around Maynooth or would like to cycle but are put off by the existing road environment, come along and have your say. Everyone welcome!

MEETING AGENDA

  1. County Development Plan’s Climate Targets
  2. Cycling Without Age
  3. Maynooth Cycling Finance
  4. Priorities for Local Elections (May 2024)
  5. Restructuring of Cyclist.ie/Dublin Cycling Campaign CLG
  6. Kildare Public Participation Network /KCC’s Strategic Policy Committee /KCC’s Sustainability Forum

Waterways Ireland’s Demotion of Cycling

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Waterways Ireland is in the process of revising its Byelaws. The previous ones were passed in 1988 more than 30 years ago so a revision has been long overdue.  The proposed Byelaws are arranged in some 40 sections. Most of the changes affect the boating fraternity but buried deep in the document is a clause which is aimed at cyclists.

Under Section 35 Protection of biodiversity, water quality, heritage, environment and prohibited activities,  Waterways Ireland includes subsection  (10) Prohibited Activity on canal property. The subsection refers to bicycles and powered personal transporters in two clauses

No person shall

(m) Use any bicycle, tricycle or powered personal transporter in a manner that endangers causes a nuisance to themselves and other users of any greenway.

(n) Exceed a speed of 15 kilometres per hour on any bicycle, tricycle or powered person transporter while using any greenway.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign has no issue with the first subclause. However, we strongly oppose the proposal to introduce a speed limit for cyclists on any Greenway or Blueway under the control of Waterways Ireland.

  • The general design speed for greenways is 30 km/h (ref TII Rural Cycleway Design (2022).
  • A bicycle is not legally obliged to have a speedometer. Therefore there is no way for a cyclist to know if he or she is travelling above or below a specific speed.
  • The introduction of such a proposal would discourage cyclists from using a greenway or blueway, and cause them to divert them to trafficked roads. Introducing such a proposal at a time when road fatalities are increasing sharply is wholly irresponsible.  
  • Extreme weather events are worsening as a result of climate change. The result of  suppressing the number of cyclists using the greenways and blueways will be to make it harder to meet our international obligations to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.
  • Internationally, many adult utility cyclists in urban areas travel in excess of 15 km/h. Imposing a limit of 15km/h for cyclists in rural areas in the vicinity of few other users is therefore ridiculous.
  • There is no speed limit on equivalent cycle facilities internationally. The introduction of such a speed limit would be to discourage international (as well as local) touring cyclists from using greenways along canals and waterways. This would reduce the potential financial benefits to adjacent businesses.  

Waterways Ireland claims that the revisions were introduced following research and consultation with key stakeholders. Certainly Maynooth Cycling Campaign was not consulted and neither was our parent body Cyclist.ie who, for many years, has campaigned for development of the Royal Canal as part of the trans-national EuroVelo Route 02 the Capitals Route which runs from Moscow to Galway.

Waterways Ireland should be encouraging cyclists instead of discouraging them. Waterways Ireland is noted for an ambivalent attitude to cyclists. Cyclists are potentially a greater source of income than walkers or boaters on many waterways but Waterways Ireland want to provide low quality cycling infrastructure. This was demonstrated by their provision of kissing gates in the past. It is demonstrated by the large number of substandard gates provided between Leixlip and Kilcock. This has been repeated with the barriers on the Royal Canal at Louisa Bridge where the openings arer 1.3m and 1.0m.  It is hardly rocket science. They just need to provide bollards at 1.5m spacing to enable all types of cycles but instead of learning from their mistakes, Waterways Ireland insist on repeating them.  

The closing date for submissions on the ByeLaws was the 2nd October but Waterways Ireland has extended the date for submissions until 27th October so there is still time to make your views known. To be fair to them, Waterways Ireland has announced that they will be having discussions with Cyclist.ie.