
How cycling has economic as well as health benefits
environmental
advocates.
Recent figures suggest that as a mode of transport,
Ireland
still has stubbornly low levels of
cycling
at 1.9 per cent of all trips. This is a huge missed opportunity to capitalise on the health and economic benefits of active travel.
Despite funding increases towards cycling and walking since 2020, Ireland's
transport
policies and associated investments still prioritise cars.
The cycling infrastructure we do have is not designed in ways that attract women and older people, who tend to prefer safe, segregated cycle lanes that are generously designed. They also prefer their cycle lanes to be part of a continuous, connected network – one that facilitates gentle speeds and all kinds of bicycles and mobility aids.
READ MORE
I was privileged to attend this year's world cycling summit in Gdansk,
Poland
recently. This was was also known as Velo-city 2025. The conference included inspiring sessions about mobility policy, urban design, technologies and behavioural change. What stood out for me most were the sessions that highlighted the social and economic benefits of cycling.
In the
Netherlands
, about 27 per cent of all trips are taken by bicycle. Interestingly, the production value of bicycles reached €3.24 billion in 2022, an increase of 79 per cent since 2015, with 3,495 companies involved in the bicycle sector and 13,800 jobs.
The economic returns include reducing healthcare costs, boosting productivity and saving households money – while also delivering environmental and public health gains.
The cycling economy is now moving into a new phase of shared mobility services such as bike-share schemes, bike leasing and mobility hubs. Such hubs are designed to make multi-modal trips easier, such as a commute that combines a bike ride or car trip to a train or bus station, followed by a bike rental at the other end to the final destination.
At a national level, cycling infrastructure is far cheaper to build and maintain than roads for cars. A kilometre of urban road can cost millions, whereas high-quality cycle lanes require significantly less investment.
The Netherlands spends approximately €30 per person annually on cycling infrastructure – a modest sum compared to the €500 million per year saved in reduced traffic congestion and healthcare costs.
Studies show that every €1 invested in Dutch cycling infrastructure returns €5-€19 in economic benefits, thanks to lower air pollution, reduced road maintenance and improved public health.
Researchers
who analysed the cost-benefit frameworks currently used to assess bicycle infrastructure projects in Copenhagen reported that the cost to society of 1km of car driving is more than six times higher (€0.50/km) than cycling (€0.08/km), when collisions, climate change, health and travel time are considered.
The Dutch cycling ecosystem is not just about bicycles and spare parts: the cycling economy includes the use of the bicycle for utility, logistics, recreational and tourism purposes. For 'last mile' logistics, cargo bicycles are both cost effective and highly efficient alternatives to the ubiquitous vans and lorries that often needlessly clutter up Irish towns and cities.
Evidence from the Netherlands shows that bike-friendly streets increase retail sales by up to 25 per cent
As for the health benefits, regular cycling reduces the risk of chronic illnesses by up to 27 per cent, leading to fewer hospital admissions and lower medical costs. These benefits increase with age. To recoup these benefits, therefore, cycling infrastructure must be attractive, safe and inviting to older people.
In the Netherlands, cycling prevents around 6,500 premature deaths each year, saving the healthcare system €3 billion annually. Additionally, cyclists take 15 per cent fewer sick days, boosting workforce productivity.
It is a tragedy that so many proposals for cycle lanes still meet public opposition, often fuelled by misinformation about the economic impact. The perception that cycle lanes will result in lost revenue to local business is usually mistaken. Repeated studies show either neutral or largely positive impacts from replacing car-parking spaces with cycling infrastructure.
Evidence from the Netherlands shows that bike-friendly streets increase retail sales by up to 25 per cent. Cyclists and pedestrians stop more frequently and spend more in local shops than drivers.
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'Amsterdam is a whole lot easier to get around than Dublin ... You get a much better quality of life here'
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Visit Copenhagen: Great food, self-assured style and bicycles in Denmark's capital
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And finally, tourism is another key component of the cycling economy. The Netherlands attracts 4.5 million cycle tourists annually, generating €1.2 billion in revenue. Ireland's growing network of greenways are ideal for similar growth but require sustained investment and great public appreciation of their local benefits.
Expanding cycling infrastructure nationwide and creating a Wild-er Atlantic Way that caters for cyclists could create thousands of jobs in hospitality, bike rentals and maintenance services.
If we want to make these benefits accessible to all, cycling infrastructure will need to cater to the safety concerns of women, people with disabilities and older people, for whom the benefits of cycling are particularly pronounced.
Additionally, investment will need to increase dramatically to create the connected networks that allow cycling to become a realistic and safe alternative to driving.
Sadhbh O'Neill is a climate and environmental researcher
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Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Has Ireland become too pricey for tourists? An economist and a tourism industry representative debate
David W Higgins: Ireland's hotel and restaurants prices are almost 30% higher than EU average When tourists travel there are a mix of costs. This can include flights, car rental, souvenirs and guided tours. High on the list is the cost of restaurants and hotels . It's basic. Tourists need somewhere to stay at night and eat throughout the day. The prices set for these items can decide if their trip happens or not. It's therefore disappointing to continually find that Ireland compares poorly across Europe when measuring these costs. Eurostat recently compared countries for the mix of prices on hotels and restaurants in 2024. It found that Ireland was 29.3 per cent higher than the EU average. The only country higher than us was Denmark on 47.6 per cent. There's a silver lining in being second because it means the Danes can feel rich travelling here. I once met a Dane who said coffee in Dublin was really affordable. You can imagine the raised eyebrows and blank stares from anyone who heard this. With a population of just six million, Denmark won't be enough to keep Ireland a vibrant tourist destination going forward. The years emerging from the Covid pandemic saw countries around the world rattled by supply chain disruption and an emergence of meaningful price jumps for the first time in decades. Consumer prices in Ireland are up 25 per cent across the board since 2016. READ MORE As wages have also risen here and elsewhere, we can assume this first 25 per cent move isn't an issue. It's price growth above these levels that should worry us. That's where restaurants and hotels continue to sound alarm. Prices linked to restaurants and hotels are up 39 per cent on 2016, according to Eurostat. What's worse is that this masks the underlying mix of the two parts. Inflation data is compiled with the Irish consumer in mind. In a given year, many of us spend sizeable amounts with local cafes, pubs and restaurants. Our spend on hotels is a much smaller fraction. Inflation among accommodation providers is up a seismic 77 per cent. It's manageable for locals and sometimes unnoticed because domestic travel is less frequent than our visits to restaurants. Now put yourself into the shoes of international travellers. Their mix of spending is heaviest on accommodation. It's the main plank of their trip. [ Alarm bells are sounding over falling visitor numbers. But is tourism really in crisis? Opens in new window ] The hospitality sector has admittedly faced rising input costs. All sectors have. We can give further allowance to policy changes such as higher minimum wage levels. This has notched up wages across hospitality at a pace higher than in other sectors. You can understand how restaurants, cafes and pubs have had to pass on higher costs. It's just hard to feel sympathy for hotels. But how is this possible? Surely a competitive market will attract new hotels, B&Bs and other sources of supply? The opposite has taken place. The surge in migration sent the Government scrambling for beds. Hotels were offered safe contracts which guaranteed income, instead of the precarious fluctuations they normally face from tourism. Even with International Protection Accommodation Services numbers falling, the latest data shows 7 per cent of hotel rooms are still used for this purpose. Releasing these rooms would mean a welcome easing to price pressures. It's all the more essential given the clouds that now hang over the tourism sector. The latest CSO data on international arrivals showed a 10 per cent decline in May, compared with the same month last year. Travellers from continental Europe are down 21 per cent. You might have expected travellers from America to be down, given the moves in the dollar this year. Numbers are actually up 11 per cent. But this is only cause for more alarm. As the tariff story unfolds, we may also see a turn. Americans are on course for a big inflation development of their own. Something's gotta give somewhere, because international tourists will only keep giving so much. David W Higgins is an economist Eoghan O'Mara Walsh: Nearly two-thirds of all holidaymakers rate us as 'very good' or 'good' value Now that we are in the peak summer tourism season, a question often asked is if Ireland is still a value-for-money destination? In my opinion, the answer is yes – and crucially it is not my opinion that counts. Fáilte Ireland, the State agency for tourism, carries out annual surveys with tourists as they are holidaying here. One of the key responses that is closely monitored by industry leaders is the value-for-money question. The latest available research shows Irish tourism is doing pretty well: 63 per cent of all holidaymakers report Ireland as being 'very good' or 'good' value, with a further 32 per cent rating us as 'fair' value and only 5 per cent rating us as 'poor' value. US visitors, buoyed by a relatively strong dollar were most positive; cash-strapped British and price-conscious Europeans a little less enthusiastic. The truth is that Liveline anecdotes about how expensive Ireland is as a holiday destination are often more of a domestic concern, whereas the international visitor tends to be a little more insouciant. The three primary reasons visitors come to Ireland after all are low-cost to no-cost: the friendliness of the people, the stunning scenery, and our culture and heritage. That's not to say Ireland isn't a northern European destination in terms of costs and prices. Last month, as noted above, Eurostat ranked Ireland as the second most expensive country in the EU, with prices 38 per cent higher than the average. That is bound to find its way into the pub, restaurant and hotel bills that consumers pay. There is a huge onus on tourism and hospitality businesses to continue delivering a compelling experience for visitors. If the quality of the Irish tourism product drops then we certainly will have a problem. [ Is Ireland really suffering a tourism collapse? Opens in new window ] How Irish tourism is faring this summer depends on who you talk to. National Central Statistics Office numbers indicate a double-digit tourism decline for the first half of the year, whereas industry data is less alarmist, pointing to a flat year. Consistent feedback, though, from all quarters is that escalating costs of business continue to squeeze already tight profit margins. Many of these business costs are of course State-induced and tourism chiefs are rightly pressuring Government to row back on some of these impositions. That is why industry leaders are pushing for Government to deliver on its commitment to restore the 9 per cent VAT rate for hospitality on budget day. My economics lectures may have been some time ago but even I remember that adding supply to meet demand helps moderate prices. So as well as curbing costs of business, the Government should be working to attract additional capacity into the market. Instead it seems to be doing the opposite. Tourism chiefs are mystified with the proposed draconian clampdown on short-term rental tourism properties. There is widespread agreement urban centres need more long-term rentals but the blunt way the legislation is currently designed means there is a real risk that rural and coastal Ireland will be denuded of holiday homes and self-catering properties, a staple of Irish tourism for decades. Taking so much stock out of the market is going to do nothing to support our value proposition. And why hasn't the passenger cap at Dublin Airport been lifted by this stage? It has been debated ad nauseam. More air access into the island's main gateway would lead to greater competition and better value for visitors coming to our shores. [ The Irish Times view on the Dublin airport cap: will politicians or the courts finally decide? Opens in new window ] Tourism and hospitality is the country's largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer. There are more than a quarter of a million people employed in the sector across 20,000 businesses. Put simply, tourism matters. Minister for Tourism Peter Burke is set to unveil a new national tourism policy this autumn. Hopefully it will match the ambitions of the industry. But sustainable growth can only be enabled by pro-tourism and pro-enterprise policies. Competitiveness is all-important. Let's curb additional business costs and facilitate extra supply into the market. That will be a win for the visitor, for industry, for the exchequer and for the communities across swathes of regional Ireland where tourism is the only show in town. Eoghan O'Mara Walsh is chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation


The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Ireland AM star Eric Roberts shares sweet snaps with son Rían on sun-soaked holiday and fans say he's ‘so like his dad'
TOP TRIP Ireland AM star Eric Roberts shares sweet snaps with son Rían on sun-soaked holiday and fans say he's 'so like his dad' IRELAND AM star Eric Roberts has left fans gushing after he shared a series of sweet snaps from his family holiday. The Donegal native and his wife Niamh jetted off to Spain with their little one and extended family for a sun-soaked break. Advertisement 3 Eric jetted off to Spain with his family Credit: Instagram 3 The doting dad shared a glimpse inside his holiday Credit: Instagram 3 Fans shared their love for his post Credit: Instagram The happy couple, who welcomed their first child Rían into the world in January, have been sharing glimpses into their life on social media ever since. The TV star took to his Instagram today to share some of the sweet moments from their fun-filled getaway. Eric posted adorable snaps of his eight-month-old son enjoying the trip, along with loved-up photos of himself and Niamh. In one snap, the host looked happy as ever as he held little Rían in his arms while posing alongside his own dad. Advertisement The doting dad also posted a cute mirror selfie with Rían, as well as a heartwarming snap of Niamh and their baby smiling at each other during the flight. Lastly, the dad-of-one shared plenty of the fun family moments they shared while enjoying their holiday. The presenter captioned his post: "A lovely few days away with the family." Fans and friends flocked to the comment section to share their love for his post. Advertisement Carol said: "Gorgeous family." Tina wrote: "So like his dad baby Rían." Eric Roberts reflects on Donegal defeat Farah gushed: "The baby is so cute." Another added: "Happy family picture." Advertisement Before heading off on his holidays last week, Eric reflected on Donegal's defeat at the All-Ireland final and claimed, "we will be back". The Donegal man was working pitchside with BBC Sport for the big game and gave fans a glimpse behind the scenes of his day at Croke Park. Unfortunately for Eric, he had to watch his home county fall short on the biggest day of the GAA calendar, as Kerry secured yet another All-Ireland title. GAME OVER The presenter was on the edge of his seat throughout the game, watching Donegal play catch-up after such a high-octane start by Kerry. Advertisement After the full-time hooter sounded, Eric took to Instagram to reflect on the big day. The TV star shared a series of snaps from his time working at Croke Park. He posted pictures of himself on the pitch before the game and even posed for a snap beside the Sam Maguire cup. But in a subtle nod to the disappointing result for Eric, he ended the post with a short clip of himself looking deflated as the final whistle blew. Advertisement While staying neutral for his presenting duties, the dad-of-one still brought his usual style to the day. He sported a white tee, black trousers and a bright orange jacket paired with white trainers.

The 42
2 days ago
- The 42
Farrell's Ireland set to visit Australia and New Zealand next year
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