Six Cork councillors to experience the benefits of a Dutch cycling-friendly city

Councillors will travel to Utrecht for a study visit with the Dutch Cycling Embassy from January 29 to February 1

Utrecht is the fourth-largest and fastest-growing city in the Netherlands, with a population of around 330,000 people, broadly similar to Cork’s forecasted population by 2040. Picture: Denis Minihane

Six Cork city councillors are to visit the Netherlands next month to see how the Dutch have made Utrecht one of the world’s most cycling-friendly cities.

Kevin Long, vice chairman of the Cork Cycling Campaign, welcomed the news of the three-day trip, and said he hopes council staff involved in the delivery of active travel will go too.

"They will experience for themselves what best practice cycle networks look like, and hopefully see the potential for Cork if we had similar infrastructure here," he said.

"Some of the councillors going on the study haven't been supportive of new cycling infrastructure in the past, and this is why it is good to see them going on this study trip.

"It may change mindsets and thinking towards new cycling schemes and the BusConnects cycle network as they come online."

Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy brought the matter before council, seeking approval for six named councillors to travel to Utrecht to attend the study visit with the Dutch Cycling Embassy from January 29 to February 1.

It is understood that all 31 councillors were asked to express their interest in taking part in the trip and that six were selected  — Fianna Fáil's Terry Shannon, Fine Gael's  Derry Canty, and Independents Mick Finn, Thomas Maloney, Paudie Dineen, and Kenneth O’Flynn. 

Mr Finn has now confirmed that he will not be travelling and a replacement will be found.

He was one of two councillors in the delegation not standing for re-election next June. Mr Canty is the other.

Mr Finn said he has pulled out of the trip because it clashes with a work commitment which involves overseas travel.

But he said even if there was no clash, he would have travelled to Utrecht because he is still an elected member of council until the local elections.

“When you talk to cycling groups, they all mention Utrecht so I would like to have seen how they have done it,” he said.

“The trip was open to all current sitting councillors, and I am still a sitting councillor, representing the people of my area.

“I find these trips beneficial. And there is still a lot of planning and policy being done and there are still inputs to be made between now and the local elections.” 

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Mr O’Flynn, who has a motor industry background, also defended the inclusion in the delegation of councillors who are not seeking re-election.

“Sure if we took that kind of view on things like this, we would paralyse democracy,” he said.

“They are still members of council. We all have a mandate until June. And I’m taking nothing for granted either. I may not be re-elected.

“I would like to see the Dutch standards and best practice, what works, how it’s been pursued, and how that can be applied to Cork.

“It’s about knowing what has worked, what’s beneficial, so that we can avoid the mistakes.” 

Utrecht is the fourth-largest and fastest-growing city in the Netherlands, with a population of around 330,000 people, broadly similar to Cork’s forecasted population by 2040.

Thanks to massive investment in cycling infrastructure, Utrecht has around 125,000 average daily bike trips, with 60% of all trips to the city centre made by bike. Cars make up less than 15% of trips into its city centre.