Belfast has just two miles of cycle lanes that are physically separated from traffic and pedestrians, according to a new report.
Despite the opportunities presented by the pandemic that distance hasn’t changed since 2019 as Northern Ireland invests the least in active travel throughout these islands.
But we can exclusively reveal that 68% of residents who took part in the Walking and Cycling Index 2021 support building more on-road segregated tracks, even if it means less room for other traffic.
Read more: Belfast cycle network plan includes 193km of new city routes
While the majority want the government to spend more on walking (60%), cycling (58%) and public transport (66%).
The number of those taking to Belfast roads on bikes each week is up 5% since the pandemic began, with around just a third saying cycling safety is good.
Hospital pharmacist, Claire Monteith, uses her bike to move between RVH and Belfast City hospitals, having lost one to thieves before secure parking was installed.
She said: “People don’t like you cycling on the footpaths and the cars don’t want you on the road, so you don’t feel very protected.
“I would like to see more greenways and protected cycle lanes, like on the Lagan Embankment.”
While Claire has done a lot more cycling since Covid-19 hit, 32% of those surveyed say they’d like to cycle, but don’t.
But if the city had more segregated cycle tracks, 69% said they would use bicycles more.
While the gains for the environmentally friendly mode of transport through improved infrastructure are clear, the index also looked at “walking and wheeling for the first time” since it was introduced in 2015.
The biennial work, formerly called Bike Life, was produced for Sustrans and the Department for Infrastructure.
It found almost three quarters of Belfast residents think a ban on pavement parking would help everyone in the city to walk, wheel and cycle more.
Just 57% of disabled people feel welcome and comfortable when walking or spending time on the streets in their neighbourhood.
But 77% think wider pavements would encourage people to walk or wheel more.
Four in five also believe their streets are dominated by cars while 58% say restricting through-traffic would make their area a better place to live - and over half say there’s no space for children to play and socialise.
North Belfast mum, Pauline McCallion, says her girls “really like walking to school”. But dog mess, cars parked on footpaths and cyclists avoiding the road make the journey difficult.
“Car parking outside the school has meant the footpaths can be difficult to walk along,” she said.
“Our girls manage to squeeze between the parked cars and hedge but often I have to push the baby in the pram in the middle of the road.
“One of the main barriers to walking to school is the dog poo everywhere. We have complained about it but the problem persists. “There are also lots of people cycling on the footpaths so we have to watch out for them too.”
Dad, Richard Corr, said: “The greenways and bus lanes were a very big influence on where we bought our house.
“The Comber Greenway and Lagan towpath have made a huge difference to how I commute. I travel with my two young children, dropping them off at nursery on my way to the Royal.
“I find I can cross the city and feel relatively safe.
“The cars take more notice of you when they see you cycling with children in the trailer.”
The physiotherapist, however, would like to see “better facilities for cycle commuters”.
There are just 64 cycle parking spaces across the city’s 11 railway stations - and just six at the two bus stations - while Richard says employers could provide better facilities to allow staff to shower and change.
The Walking and Cycling Index 2021 also found 85% of Belfast people support the idea of 20 minute neighbourhoods, where amenities like shops, green space and GPs are within a twenty-minute return walk or wheel of where they live.
Cyclists in the city are already helping fight the climate crisis by cutting 3,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
But by getting on their bikes, they are also improving the local economy to the tune of 95p a mile when travel time, vehicle costs, medical costs (£660k NHS saving a year), work absenteeism, congestions, air quality, noise, tax and greenhouse gases are all considered.
Sustrans Northern Ireland Director, Caroline Bloomfield, said: “The independent survey provides clear evidence that the residents of Belfast want greater investment in active travel and public transport to provide alternatives to the car.
“Given the crises we face such as significant obesity levels and climate change, our government must do more to enable active travel to improve our health and reduce carbon emissions from transport.
“We believe a lot more needs to be done to improve walking and cycling infrastructure in Belfast, and the survey shows residents are supportive of this."
Read more: Campaigners want oil and gas exploration ban over 'fuel poverty lock-in' fears
Read more: UK Gov gives £986k to NI project based on 'gas caverns' being legally challenged
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
