The latest modal share report on trends in vehicles and people crossing the canal cordon in Dublin has been released by the National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council.
It shows that the modal share of people using motorcycles to commute into the city center has leveled off but is still some 40% down on the numbers from 2006 while cycling is up by 87% over the same period.
Dublin Canal Cordon motorcycle count 2006 – 2013
(Source: National Transport Authority)
As the report notes:
This significant increase reflects a number of measures introduced in the past seven years to promote cycling in the city – including the Dublinbikes bike rental scheme, the provision of cycle lanes, public awareness campaigns to promote cycling and the introduction of the 30kph city centre speed limit. However, the trend in Dublin is also part of general nationwide trend of increased use of cycling in recent years – with the recent Census figures showing a national increase of 10% in people travelling to work by bicycle between 2006 and 2011.
There are now over six times more cyclists than motorcyclists crossing the canal cordon in the morning rush hour, while motorcycle riders make up just 0.74% of people crossing the canals.
The decline in motorcycle use, while significant, has at least leveled off. Unfortunately, fewer riders on the road means less influence for motorcyclists as a whole in policy decisions and makes it harder for organisations like MAG Ireland to promote motorcycling as a viable alternative to the car for commuters.
The report is available as a PDF on the National Transport Authority web site at:
http://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Canal_Cordon_Trends_2006-2013.pdf