The Irish Cycling Renaissance

The Irish people seem to be falling in love with the bicycle. In the 15 months since I returned to cycling I've noticed many more cyclists on the rural back roads around home. It's rare to go cycling now and not meet at least one other cyclist and often a lot more than that. The number of sportives and fun cycles in the area is  growing and the number of people taking part in them is also growing.

The Bicycle is conquering the Emerald Isle

The Irish Times recently had an article about the surge in Irish cycling.
“Tots on trikes, robed barristers on racers, high-heeled hairdressers on High Nellies – Ireland has gone mad for cycling. Once empty cycle lanes are now red conveyor belts of pedallers, and rush hour junctions are a jam of wheels. It’s clear we’re having a love affair with the bike”.

A report published by the Irish Bicycle Business Association (IBBA) claims 90,000 bikes were bought in two years as a result of a government Bike to Work Scheme, which gives workers a tax break for buying a bike to travel to work. According to the IBBA this generated €138.68 million in sales. Since the scheme was introduced at least 50 new bicycle shops have opened and 767 jobs have been created or preserved.

Padraig Ryan, transport co-ordinator with Temple Street Children’s University Hospital in Dublin, says there has been a 450% increase in the number of staff cycling to work, since the introduction of the government scheme. In the same period the membership of Cycling Ireland, the governing body of cycling in Ireland has grown from 5,000 to 10,000.

Bike Stands, Achill Island, Co Mayo

According to a report from the Taiwan Trade Centre, in London there was a 294 percent increase in the export of bikes from Taiwan to Ireland in 2010.

For the last four years almost all the economic news out of Ireland has been bad, tales of woe and trouble abound. But the bicycle business has a different story to tell. As so often before when times get bad and people need to help themselves and improve their situation they turn to the bicycle.



Taiwan Trade Centre Report

Irish Times Article

Irish Bicycle Business Association Website

Cycling Ireland Website