Spin doctor Ryan says we’ll cycle like it’s Paris

EAMON Ryan has said Dublin will become similar to cities such as Paris and London, with cycling becoming one of the most common ways to travel.

The Green Party leader and Transport Minister pledged to make cycling feel safe for everyone, adding that every city and town in the country will see cycling and walking become the ‘mainstream form’ of transport.

He made the comments as he and junior minister Jack Chambers joined Hugh Creegan, deputy CEO of the National Transport Authority (NTA), to announce €290million in funding for local authorities to support the rollout of walking and cycling infrastructure in 2024.

A total of €1billion of investment has seen more than 600km of cycling, walking and wheeling infrastructure built since 2020.

Speaking in Clontarf, north Dublin, Mr Ryan said the local council is ‘coming round’ to the idea of allocating spaces for walking and cycling.

‘The money we have been spending – that billion euro we spent in the last four years – it reaches a certain point where it changes things on the ground, it makes it safe to cycle,’ the Green Party leader explained.

‘When we make it safe to cycle, I am convinced that Dublin, just like Paris or London, is going to switch to cycling.

‘Not just Dublin, but Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Galway and every town around the country. We are very close to that point.

‘We have designed it through good engineering, putting networks together that connect up. I think the people are with us.’

Mr Ryan said it is ‘currently not safe’ to walk or cycle, adding: ‘We have to make it safe, and as we do that we will see a change.

‘We will see a tipping point where there is massive change in cycling and walking as a mainstream form of transport for our city.’