There are calls for Belfast’s cycling infrastructure to be radically redeveloped to provide ‘protected cycle lanes’ for commuters on their bikes.
Cycle lanes throughout the city are marked with white lines, and some say they are dangerous due to parked cars and speeding traffic.
Colin O’Carroll, a National Standards cycling instructor, said ‘protected cycle lanes’, separated from other traffic by physical barriers to increase safety for cyclists, would encourage more people onto their bikes.
“A cycle lane here is basically a white line sprayed onto a busy road which is completely useless,” he said.
“Take the Crumlin Road where the cycle lane is lined with parked cars and that’s dangerous because it’s pushing cyclists into the traffic. The DFI need to implement a protected cycle lane along these routes so there is a physical barrier that vehicles cannot cross. The ones we do have start and stop mid-route so that’s pointless as your having to exit and enter heavy traffic along the road.
“Motorists are supposed to give cyclists a two-meter gap when overtaking but on every journey, I’ll have at least one close pass where a motorist is not respecting that space be it to try and avoid some traffic congestion or simply road rage from the mentality cyclists shouldn’t be on the road. It’s especially intimidating for those with little experience who try to implement cycling into their daily commute.
“I was in Melbourne recently and they had lined the inside lane with a raised curb to separate it from the traffic. It was normal to see parents with two young children all on their bikes cycling in this busy city, whereas it’s rare to see it off a greenway here due to safety concerns. Here there seems to be more of a focus on providing greenways for those wishing to cycle for leisure instead of improving the cycling infrastructure along our arterial routes.
“The DFI does not fundamentally understand what is needed. Cycling lanes are treated as little more than a box-ticking exercise. It’s frustrating for the cycling community.”
The DFI has not built any new significant separated cycle infrastructure in over five years and currently, Belfast has just 3.2km of dedicated cycle paths.
South Belfast woman Kerry Lynn said she faces a daily battle when commuting with her three children in their cargo bike on the school run.
She has called for ‘lifesaving’ changes to the highway code to introduce a ‘hierarchy of road users’ to help protect the most vulnerable as the wait for safe cycling infrastructure being implemented in the city continues.
“As a mum of three young kids, we’re out and about in the neighbourhood every day, either as pedestrians or on the cargo bike and safety is my biggest concern,” she explained.
“We live just a few hundred metres from the school, but navigating that residential area can be a nightmare. Just last week we were cycling to the library which includes a couple of hundred meters on the main road and as I was entering one motorist came flying past and cut us off and all we had were helmets to protect us.
“I always go into the slow lane beside the curb but the parked cars force you into the traffic. You put in the effort to cycle at a suitable speed but motorists cut you off or speed up to pass you and you are forced to stop or slow down meaning that momentum is wasted. Motorists are also reluctant to let cyclists out so you are left waiting for a break in the traffic only for cars to speed up and overtake you which is not only intimidating and a risk but pointless as we all end up stopped at the same traffic lights.
“I find the cycle lanes on my route more trouble than they are worth. They feel like little more than a box-ticking exercise You leave Ormeau Park onto Park Road where you can use a cycle lane part of the way but once you reach Ormeau Road there is nowhere to go and if you try to cross you face cars coming at speed as you try to turn 90 degrees.
“Updates to our road rules, like the ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’ make so much sense to me because it highlights our individual responsibilities relative to what we’re using to get around. A heavier vehicle with higher speeds should carry the most responsibility and care to help protect the most vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. It’s all about mutual respect and kindness.”
A recent survey found that only 35% of Belfast residents think the level of safety for cycling in their area is good.
Andrew McClean, Cycling UK’s Northern Ireland lead, said people have voiced a ‘desire to cycle’ but it’s not translating to more cycling trips because cycling infrastructure is not there.
He told the Irish News: “We know that nearly half the people in Belfast want to cycle more. We also know from the government’s own survey data, that cycling is the number one preferred way to get around for commuters in the city and the surrounding areas.
“However the majority of people agree there aren’t enough safe cycle paths, and only a third of people in Belfast think it’s safe to cycle in their area. That’s because there are only a couple of miles of dedicated cycle paths in the whole of Belfast.
“There’s still a complete lack of urgency around building safe, dedicated cycle paths, despite warm words from the government. Rolling out 20mph as a default speed limit, and updating the Highway Code to include some of the changes implemented three years ago in Great Britain, would help.”
The DfI Roads Eastern Transport Plan Engagement Survey showed cycling was the preferred mode of transport for future trips to work or education, more than any other. The report also showed that 60% of respondents reported a lack of safe cycle paths.
Green Party councillor, Brian Smyth said The Department of Infrastructure and its minister need to commit to building the Belfast Cycling Network.
“Many who wish to get back on their bikes feel it is not safe in large parts of the city due to the lack of safe segregated cycling infrastructure,” he told The Irish News.
“The Department of Infrastructure and its minister need to commit to building the Belfast Cycling Network, which has long been talked about. The Belfast cycle network delivery plan has a number of recommendations for new safe cycling infrastructure that the minister should fund but chooses not to.
“They need to move away from being a car-centric department to finally committing to spending 10% of their budget on active travel, as required by the Climate Act passed in 2022.”
The DFI has been contacted for comment.
