A Vision for a Greener and More Vibrant Belfast Through Active Travel

Advocacy groups are uniting to inspire transformative change in Belfast's active travel infrastructure, aiming for a greener, more accessible future by 2030.

Advocacy groups are raising red flags about the Department for Infrastructure’s failure to meet its legally required spending targets for active travel.

Under the Climate Act of 2022, the department must devote at least 10% of its annual budget to support initiatives that promote walking and cycling by 2030.

This commitment translates to over £80 million each year, but the current expenditure hovers around a mere £12 million.

Concerns Over Investment and Infrastructure

In response, the department has reiterated its intention to ramp up investments in line with the Climate Change Act by the deadline.

However, it is evident that Northern Ireland is significantly trailing behind both the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland when it comes to per capita spending on active travel.

Investment in active travel means building the necessary infrastructure that encourages people to choose walking or cycling over car usage.

This shift not only promotes healthier habits but also helps in cutting down carbon emissions.

A spokesperson from the Belfast Cycle Campaign expressed concerns about the lack of progress, stating that it’s hard to feel optimistic in light of the stagnation.

She suggested that various organizations could work together to explore potential legal actions to catalyze necessary changes.

A representative from Friends of the Earth echoed this sentiment, arguing that legal strategies might be extremely effective and stressing the urgency for action, given that many deadlines have already slipped by.

Current State of Active Travel in Belfast

According to research from the active travel charity Sustrans, Belfast currently boasts only two miles of protected cycling lanes that separate riders from traffic.

Recently, the Department for Infrastructure introduced a £580,000 funding plan aimed at improving pedestrian and cycling access at Stranmillis Embankment in Belfast.

Yet, this move sparked Sustrans’ concern about prioritizing enhancements to existing facilities rather than expanding new bike lane options in other areas.

One campaigner painted a grim picture by comparing Belfast’s active travel efforts to those of cities such as Dublin.

She argued that Belfast is lagging by 15 to 20 years and falls even further behind numerous European cities.

It’s worth noting that since the Belfast Bicycle Network delivery plan was unveiled in 2022, no significant developments have taken place.

Advocacy and Future Hopes

While the department claims progress on several fronts since releasing that delivery plan, many advocates are left dissatisfied, feeling that the results have been underwhelming.

One contributor raised doubts about the effective use of allocated funds, stating that some active travel projects lack meaningful destinations.

As traffic congestion continues to escalate in Belfast, advocates are stressing the need for viable active travel solutions.

A Cycling UK representative lamented the slow pace of project execution and called for committed actions to create a genuinely effective active travel network.

Despite these hurdles, a robust community of advocates and campaigners remains hopeful.

They are determined to keep pressing for advancement in active travel initiatives, envisioning a greener and more accessible Belfast through their collective efforts.

Source: Bbc.com