52% of adults in Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area walk or wheel at least five times a week, 15% cycle at least once a week
The National Transport Authority has today published the findings of the first-ever survey of walking, wheeling and cycling in Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area, which reveals that 52% of residents walk or wheel (meaning the use of a wheelchair or mobility scooter) at least five times a week, while 15% of residents cycle at least once a week.
The Walking and Cycling Index provides the largest-ever assessment of walking, wheeling and cycling in Ireland. Delivered in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council and Clare County Council, the National Transport Authority and sustainable transport charity Sustrans, the Index was expanded last year to include Limerick Shannon, alongside Cork, Galway, Dublin and Waterford Metropolitan Areas. 18 city regions in the UK also produced reports.
The Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index is based on an independent demographically representative survey of more than 1,100 residents from across the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area, aged 16 and above, not just those who walk, wheel or cycle. The Metropolitan Area is centred on Limerick City and covers the area from Cloonlara to Patrickswell and west to Shannon.
It reveals that 61% of residents are in favour of additional investment in cycling infrastructure and 70% in favour of additional investment in walking and wheeling infrastructure. This comes amid a growing demand for active travel with 49% expressing their desire to walk, wheel more in the future, and 34% expressing a desire to cycle more.
Key Findings include 52% of adult residents walk 5 or more days a week
Key findings from the 2023 Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index:
- 52% of adult residents walk 5 or more days a week, 55% use car 5 or more days a week and 15% of adults cycle at least once a week.
- 76% of residents support building cycle tracks physically separated from traffic and pedestrians even where that means less room for other traffic.
- Every day those who walk and cycle takes nearly 32,000 cars off the road in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area. If all of these cars were in a traffic jam it would tail back 151 kilometres equivalent to the distance from Limerick City to Waterford City.
- Residents walking, wheeling and cycling create an annual economic benefit for individuals and the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area of €145.4 million
- Walking, wheeling and cycling improve public health in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area, preventing 320 serious long term health conditions each year, saving the HSE €4.54 million equivalent to the cost of over 83,100 GP appointments.
- Those walking, wheeling and cycling instead of driving, save greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 69,300 flights from Shannon Airport to London Heathrow Airport.
- There is a €1.40 net economic benefit for each km cycled instead of driven and €0.94 net economic benefit for each km walked instead of driven.
Environmental Benefits
Every day nearly 32,000 return walking, wheeling and cycling trips are made daily in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area by people that could have used a car. If these cars were all in a traffic jam it would tail back 151 kilometres, equivalent to the distance from Limerick City to Waterford City.
The report also found that walking, wheeling and cycling save 6,200 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in Limerick Shannon each year, which is equivalent to about 69,300 residents taking flights from Shannon Airport to London Heathrow Airport.
Health Benefits and Inclusivity
The benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling to the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area are outlined in the report, with the physical activity benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling preventing 320 long-term health conditions annually, valued at approx. €4.54m equivalent to the cost of over 83,100 GP appointments.
The Index showed that residents’ travel choices and their perceptions of walking, wheeling, and cycling vary between different groups. It found that 48% of residents with a disability walk or wheel at least five days a week in Limerick Shannon, compared to 53% of residents without a disability. 8% of residents with a disability cycle at least once a week compared to 16% without. While 52% of women and 52% of men walk or wheel at least five days a week, there is a gender gap when it comes to cycling with 20% of men cycling at least once a week, compared with 10% of women.
What Residents Say Will Help Them Walk or Cycle More
When asked what would help them walk or wheel more, Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area residents want better footpath surfaces including dropped kerbs at crossing points, more parks and green spaces close to home, and nicer places along streets to stop and rest.
When asked what would help them cycle more, residents want infrastructural improvements such as traffic-free paths through parks or greenways, signed cycle routes along quieter streets, and cycle tracks along roads physically separated from traffic and pedestrians.
There is evidence too that residents support the development of more protected cycle infrastructure within the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area, with 76% of residents supporting building more cycle tracks physically separated from traffic and pedestrians, even where that means less room for other traffic.
Creating a Better Place to Live
Limerick residents also recognise the importance of liveable neighbourhoods. 82% agree that increasing space for residents socialising, walking, wheeling and cycling on their local main street would improve their local area. 85% of residents support creating low-traffic neighbourhoods where groups of streets, bordered by main roads, have ‘through’ motor vehicle traffic greatly reduced. 83% support the creation of 20-minute neighbourhoods – neighbourhoods where it is easy for people to meet most of their everyday needs in 20 minute return walk.
Economic Benefits of Active Travel
The report also found that walking, wheeling and cycling creates an annual economic benefit for individuals and the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area of €145.4m. This includes €1.40 of a net economic benefit for each km cycled instead of driven and €0.94 benefit of each km walked instead of driven. These costs were determined through an analysis of travel time, vehicle operating costs, health benefits, air quality and taxation.
Speaking on the Walking and Cycling Index, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, Mayor of Limerick City and County Council said: “As Mayor of Limerick City and County Council, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to the inaugural Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index. For the first time, we have facts and figures about active travel in our Metropolitan Area which will support us in delivering the investment our residents want in creating a sustainable place, where people and businesses thrive. The physical activity benefits of active travel in our Metropolitan Area are significant. We can see 52 early deaths are prevented annually, representing €407million. Elected members in the Metropolitan District recently approved new by-laws to limit many central areas of the city to a 30kmh speed limit, with residents telling us that these safety improvements will further encourage a modal shift.
“It is positive to see that 88% of residents think their local area overall is a good place to walk or wheel and 71% think that the level of safety for cycling in their area is good. This is gratifying given our investment to date with the support of the National Transport Authority.
“The report helps us understand the type of infrastructure people say will help them do just that – wider and more accessible footpaths, more crossing, more greenways, signposted quieter streets and segregated cycle tracks. Castletroy Urban Greenway and Hyde Road are examples of active travel infrastructure which enhance the local environment. Our first School Street at An Mhodhscoil in Limerick city developed under the Safe Routes to School Programme has also been a great success. We are determined to continue our efforts to provide the active travel infrastructure desired by our residents for now and the future.”
Cllr. Donna McGettigan, Cathaoirleach Shannon Municipal District said: “I am pleased to welcome the first Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index. This report provides a useful insight into the behaviours and opinions of Shannon Area Residents towards walking, wheeling, and cycling. It gives us a great sense of what type of investment and infrastructure people want, to help make the area a vibrant, attractive, and sustainable part of the Metropolitan area.”
More people in Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area want to cycle and walk each day
Anne Graham, CEO of the NTA said: “We’re delighted to roll out the largest survey into walking, wheeling and cycling in Ireland. Over the past few years, the NTA has been working with local authorities across the country, including Limerick Shannon, to deliver safe pedestrian and cycle infrastructure that encourages more people to engage in active travel.
“It’s clear from the latest Index that more people in Limerick Shannon want to cycle and walk each day. By encouraging people to make active travel a part of their daily journey, we can all play our part in creating a more sustainable future. The NTA will continue to accelerate our efforts to roll out walking and cycling infrastructure in Limerick Shannon and other cities across Ireland.”
The Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index can be accessed here.