Ocean FM - Weekly Tips 27 - Active Travel

This week on Our to Protect we highlighted the joys of cycling and the importance of good cycling infrastructure.

Did You Know?

Transport Infrastructure Ireland which oversees, funds, designs and maintains Greenways and rural cycle ways, in addition to roads and motorways, has an office in Sligo
Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim County Councils are the bodies responsible for locating bus stops, cycle parking and car parking locations for car charging
The Safe Routes to School initiative works to enable students to walk, scoot or cycle to school where possible or to “park and stride” if they live too far away to get there entirely on their own steam
The Sligo Local Transport Plan proposes segregated cycle tracks between Sligo Town and Drumcliffe, St. Angela’s College, Calry, Ballygawley, Ballysadare and Collooney and Rosses Point and Strandhill

Why is this important?

Ireland ranks only behind Cyprus as the most car-dependent country in the EU, with 76 per cent of people using a car as their daily transport – even for very short journeys
Active travel delivers more than any other transport mode when it comes to sustainable development and climate action. If more people were enabled to walk and cycle safely, it could reduce transport emissions by as much as 50%!
This is good for health as well as the environment. 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity, such as walking or cycling, five days a week, reduces your risk of developing heart disease and stroke, and contributes to overall improved levels of health
Improving bus, pedestrian and cycling facilities all lead to air quality improvements, less congestion in towns and contributing to carbon reduction
Regular physical activity has been found to be one of the most sustainable ways of improving health. Designing a transport system that builds in some level of exercise, whether that is a 10 min walk at either end of a bus journey or a cycle to work or school, is the easiest way of achieving this

What can I do?

If you are in and around Sligo Town but cannot walk or cycle for your journey, check to see whether an ebike would suit. Bolt bikes are widely available throughout Sligo Town and can be used by downloading the Bolt app. This can be very handy when you are looking to get somewhere more quickly, travelling one way, or avoiding traffic.
Before you get into your car, check whether you really do need to drive for your journey or whether there is a more environmentally friendly way of doing so
If you do drive try to be more conscious of other road users such as cyclists and pedestrians – reduce speed, and watch out for cycle lanes or pedestrian crossings

For more information

Sligo County Council Consultations

Sligo County Development Plan

Local Authority Climate Action Plans

Benefits of lower speed limits

Sligo Cycling Campaign