100 signatures reached
To: Thomas Connell, GCC Director of Services for Transportation; Hugh Creegan, NTA Director of Transport Investment; Cllr.’s John Walsh (pictured below!), Chairman and Cllr. Noel Larkin, Mayor, GCC Transport Strategic Policy Committee.
More Bicycle Parking for Galway City!
• A commitment to doubling bike parking spaces within the next 5 years in Galway city centre.
• The installation of 40 new bike stands in Upper Salthill by August 1st 2017.
• Hire a Galway City Cycling officer to be appointed by December 2017, before the end of the Galway City European Green Leaf designation.
Why is this important?
In 2014 Sara Morris, spokeswoman for the National Transport Authority, advised of the allocation of €50,000 for the provision of additional bike parking to Galway City Council. Three years later, on the first day of National Bike Week 2017, Galway City is still massively lacking in the provision of bicycle parking with no evidence of where that money was spent. To date, there are still less than 200 bicycle parking stands in Galway City. With a population of just under 80,000 people this is clearly an inadequate number of bicycle parking spaces for Ireland’s forth biggest city.
Bicycle parking is an issue that affects all members of our community here in Galway; from blocking pedestrian and disability access on our streets and footpaths to contributing to an increased number of cars on our roads. The lack of bicycle parking is a something that is driving commuters into their cars unnecessarily.
Congestion in the city centre is at an all time high with Galwegians spending more time sitting in traffic than drivers than any other city in Ireland. An increased reliance on cars for transportation is not only adding to the levels of pollution in the city but is also negatively impacting the health, safety and wellbeing of our citizens. Galway City Council themselves acknowledge, through their Park’n’Stride Campaign, that an increased reliance on bicycles as a form of transport would not only alleviate traffic congestion but would also improve the physical and mental health of the population by incorporating exercise into everyday activities such as commuting.
On this year, 2017, that Galway holds the European Green Leaf designation and in the lead up to Galway 2020 when Galway will see an increase in tourism, An Mheitheal Rothar is calling on the above mentioned individuals to not just make a commitment, but to immediately take action to increase in bicycle parking for the city and the appointment of an new Cycling Officer within Galway City Council.
If you would like to support this campaign please sign the petition and follow us on social media for more information. You can also share the petition using #bikeparkinggalway
We would also encourage you to express your concerns to:
• Thomas Connell - Galway City Council Director of Services for Transportation, Recreation and Amenity, Corporate Services ([email protected]);
• Hugh Creegan - National Transport Authority Director of Transport Investment and Taxi Regulation, Deputy Chief Executive ([email protected]) ;
• Cllr. John Walsh ([email protected] )- Chairman, GCC Transport Strategic Policy Committee;
• Cllr. Noel Larkin – Mayor ([email protected]), GCC Transport Strategic Policy Committee.
As part of Bike Week 2017, An Mheitheal Rothar also took to the streets to speak with some of Galway's cycling community about their thoughts on cycling in the city. Watch our video here: https://youtu.be/sBxkyiRxYv8