Reliability
No more waiting in traffic or waiting for often unpredictable public transport. As cycling is generally not affected by slow moving or gridlocked traffic and finding parking is not a major problem, people who cycle can know exactly how long their journeys will take.
Speed
Distances are often overestimated by car and public transport users, even moderate cycling is faster than many people think it is. For many journeys inside towns and cities or down to the shop it is the fastest method. Almost all short journeys are faster, and some longer journeys are faster due to traffic, or other reasons such as the need to switch on some public transport trips.
Health
Regular exercise has physical and mental health benefits. Moderate exercise reduces levels of depression and stress, while improving mood and raising self-esteem — cyclists often report arriving to work refreshed. Cycling reduces the chances of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and the most common form of diabetes. It will increase fitness, and help with weight loss and maintain a healthy weight. For the State, there is also the knock-on effect of having a healthier population that lowers health care investment costs. For more details and references see: bupa.co.uk, smartertravelworkplaces.ie.
Cost
A good commuting bicycle can be pick up between €350 to €500, or a second hand bike can be bought for less. For commuters, the cost of a bicycle can be recouped in a matter of months, saving on fuel or public transport ticket costs. After that, the savings continue. Cycling is cheaper than public transport or driving. Parking is free and ongoing costs are a fraction of maintenance and running costs of cars.
Living environment
A reduction of motor traffic can also improve the quality of life in the city and suburbs. And, compared to both private car and public transport use, using a bicycle emits no air pollution, and almost no noise pollution, which is seen as a large problem in Dublin.
Climate change
Cycling is the most efficient form of transport, bar none. It is more efficient than walking – less energy is required to cycle. While there are extra carbon emissions in the construction and delivery of bicycles, this is minimal compared to private and public transport vehicles.
Why is promoting cycling good for the State / the government?
- It helps tackle obesity and a wide range of related problems — This saves the State money on heath spending in the mid to long run.
- Better mental health — Same as above, and also gets workers and students off to a fresher start to the day.
- Lowers traffic congestion — The more people on bikes, the more congestion becomes less and less of a problem.
- Costs less than providing public transport — One of the main reasons the Dutch and Dains invested in cycling
- Lowers deaths and injury — Increasing the amount of people cycling alone leads to an increase in safity for all road users
- Lowers the amount of air and noise pollution — Again saves on health spending.
- Makes our towns and cities more attractive to tourists and businesses.
- Lowers cost of road building and maintenance — Cars do damage to roads, bicycles don’t.
- Lowers dependency on energy imports, making the economy less effected by oil shocks or the general increasing price of oil
