Is anybody else concerned by the @greenparty_ie's call for 20% of the transport budget for walking and cycling?
A budget "heading" is not an actual commitment to increase walking or cycling or a commitment to improve the safety or convenience of either form of travel.
A budget "heading" is not an actual commitment to increase walking or cycling or a commitment to improve the safety or convenience of either form of travel.
There are various examples of places that have spent heavily on cycling infrastructure have still been highly car-dependent. Milton Keynes, Stevenage etc.
Irish local authorities have a proven ability to spend "budgets" for walking and cycling in a profoundly cynical manner.
Irish local authorities have a proven ability to spend "budgets" for walking and cycling in a profoundly cynical manner.
If the people who will spend this budget are already putting 50% to 80% of their efforts into promoting and facilitating car travel - if that is their "real" job - in what manner do we think they are going to spend the "20%" when the time comes?
Will they magically change?
Will they magically change?
If we want to increase walking and cycling should we not be starting with targets for walking and cycling and then structuring incentives and penalties around that?
Should we not set measurable targets for the safety of walking and cycling and set incentives and penalties around that?
If these are just budget items what is the incentive?
If these are just budget items what is the incentive?
