Secret Cyclist: Make it rewarding rather than risky

"Ireland doesn’t have a cycling commissioner but given the large amount of money that is promised for cycle infrastructure across the country under the Programme of Government, it would be a good idea for someone to be steering the ship."

Pic: iStock

In policy circles, it is well established that there are four types of ‘cyclists’. These don’t pertain to the type of cycling that one does (road cycling, mountain cycling, commuter cycling, etc) but rather the disposition that one has towards cycling. In other words, how you feel about cycling.

The four types are: ‘strong and fearless’, ‘enthusiastic and confident’, ‘interested but concerned’, and ‘no way, no how’. Studies in the United States find a high degree of similarity between the number of people that identify with each group, regardless of what US city they live in.