Cork Metropolitan Area | Walking and Cycling Index 2023

The National Transport Authority has today published the findings of the first-ever survey of walking, wheeling and cycling in the Cork 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 18% 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 the Cork City and County Councils, the National Transport Authority and sustainable transport charity Sustrans, the Index was expanded last year to include Cork alongside Galway, Limerick/Shannon, Dublin and Waterford Metropolitan Areas. 

The Cork Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index is based on an independent demographically representative survey of nearly 1,100 residents from across the Cork Metropolitan Area, aged 16 and above, not just those who walk, wheel or cycle. The Cork Metropolitan Area covers an area from Midleton to Blarney and south to Carrigaline.

The Index reveals that 71% of residents are in favour of additional investment in walking and wheeling infrastructure, while 63% of residents are in favour of additional investment in cycling infrastructure, contrasting with 40% who want more investment in driving. This comes amid a growing demand for active travel with 52% expressing their desire to walk, wheel more in the future, and 37% expressing a desire to cycle more.

Key findings from the 2023 Cork Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index:

• 52% of adult residents walk 5 or more days a week while 18% of adults cycle at least once a week.
• Nearly 7 in 10 residents, 69%, 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 take nearly 69,000 cars off the road in the Cork Metropolitan Area. If all of these cars were in a traffic jam it would tail back 333 kilometres equivalent to the distance from Cork City to Dundalk.
• Residents walking, wheeling and cycling create an annual economic benefit for individuals and the Cork Metropolitan Area of €401.6 million.
• There is a €1.40 net economic benefit for each km cycled instead of driven and €0.93 net economic benefit for each km walked instead of driven.
• Walking, wheeling and cycling improves public health in the Cork Metropolitan Area, preventing 729 long-term health conditions saving the HSE €10.7million, equivalent to the cost of over 190,000 GP appointments.
• Those walking and cycling instead of driving, save greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 227,000 flights from Cork Airport to London Heathrow Airport.

https://publications.corkcity.ie/view/435704543/