The Northern Ireland Executive has launched a public consultation on its plans to deliver over 200km of ‘high quality’ active travel infrastructure over the next 10 years.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said its draft Active Travel Delivery Plan sets out how it will prioritise and deliver active travel infrastructure within urban and rural settlements.
It focuses on focuses on three key connections types for each area:
- connections to local schools;
- connections to public transport;
- and connections to town centres.
The DfI said these 'offer the greatest potential to maximise benefits for people, the environment and society’.
Infrastructure minister John O’Dowd (left of picture above) said: ‘This plan showcases the department’s ambitions for increasing active travel options in 42 settlements across the North; delivering a bold transformation for all of our communities.
‘It will complement the existing Belfast Cycling Network Delivery Plan and the Strategic Plan for Greenways, providing our teams and local councils with a firm basis for the prioritisation and delivery of active travel over the next 10 years.’
Mr O’Dowd added: ‘Research has shown that over one third of our journeys are less than two miles long and two-thirds are less than five miles.
‘These shorter journeys offer an opportunity to choose a different mode of travel to the car and make small changes to our lifestyle , regardless of age or ability, by choosing to walk, wheel, or cycle.’
Sue Percy CBE, chief executive of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT, right of picture), said: ‘CIHT welcomes the focus on active travel in Northern Ireland and the opportunity to contribute to efforts to improve active travel.
‘Active travel does not only have a positive impact on a peoples’ health, but the modal shift can contribute to net-zero aspirations by reducing congestion and subsequent air pollution.’
Mr O’Dowd said he had ‘just commissioned’ the design of six signature Active Travel projects across the North and would be sharing details ‘in the coming weeks and months as they are developed’.
DfI manages the road network in Northern Ireland and said it had engaged with its own regional transport teams who have valuable local knowledge and key stakeholders, such as local councils and Sustrans.
The plans have been grouped by council area, with maps set out in appendices.
The 42 settlements identified across the council areas are:
- Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council – Antrim, Ballyclare, Crumlin, Newtownabbey, Randalstown.
- Ards and North Down Borough Council- Bangor, Comber, Donaghadee, Holywood, Newtownards
- Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council – Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Dromore
- Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council- Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Limavady, Portrush, Portstewart
- Derry City and Strabane District Council- Derry/Londonderry, Strabane Fermanagh and Omagh District Council- Fermanagh, Omagh
- Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council – Lisburn, Carryduff, Metropolitan Castlereagh, Metropolitan Lisburn
- Mid and East Antrim District Council- Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Greenisland, Larne
- Mid Ulster- Magherafelt, Cookstown, Coalisland, Dungannon
- Newry, Mourne and Down District Council- Downpatrick, Kilkeel, Newcastle, Newry, Warrenpoint, Ballynahinch
