Minister of Transport Eamon Ryan today welcomed the publication of the new National Cycle Network (NCN) plan which sets out how Ireland will be criss-crossed with 3,500 km of safe, high quality and inviting cycle routes, linking over 200 cities, towns and villages and up to 2.8 million people nationally.
The NCN is composed of 85 corridors, integrating existing and planned greenways and other cycling infrastructure such as the Eurovelo routes, as well as an extensive new network of safe cycle routes along existing roads. It will also link to destinations such as transport hubs, centres of education, employment, leisure and tourist destinations, making it easier and safer for people throughout the country to choose cycling as part of their daily activities. The aim is that 80% of households and nearly 90% of jobs will be located within 5 km of the network.
The Grand Canal Greenway forms part of the over 400 km of existing greenways or other cycling infrastructure which will be included as key corridors in the new NCN. In addition, over 900 km of additional planned and proposed greenways will be included in the network. The remaining 2,200 km of the NCN will be provided along existing road infrastructure, ensuring that cycling infrastructure will be, for the most part, segregated from traffic, allowing cyclists to travel in their own space, away from road vehicles and with a higher level of safety and comfort where possible.
The NCN is part of the government’s commitment to expand the Active Travel and Greenway infrastructure network. The Department of Transport, alongside Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) commissioned the plan to link cities and towns of over 5,000 people through a network of cycling corridors. It also represents a key initiative in helping to achieve a 51% reduction in transport emissions by 2030, as mandated in the Climate Action Plan.