Election Cycle 2016
It’s election time! The 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly Election is also make or break time for the Bicycle Strategy for Northern Ireland, covering the crucial first five years of the 25 year vision.
That’s why Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow in his role as President of Cycling UK, and on behalf of Sustrans Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Greenways and Bikefast, asked all Northern Ireland Assembly Election candidates for their views on these three simple cycling policy asks:
1. Investment. Do you support funding for cycling in Northern Ireland of at least £10 per head of population, so as to encourage safer cycling conditions and see more people start cycling?
2. Greenways. Do you support the development of traffic-free greenways across the country to boost rural regeneration and tourism?
3. Legislation. Do you support the introduction of an Active Travel Act to incorporate cycling and walking provision into land-use planning and new developments?
Jon Snow at the Get Britain Cycling Inquiry
You can read more about the good reasons for investing in cycling post-election in the Bikefast election manifesto and a detailed assessment of the benefits of active travel investment in the Sustrans Northern Ireland manifesto. We had a phenomenal response..
You can find out what the candidates in your constituency thought about these asks – click on your area to see who responded and how they viewed our policy priorities:
Belfast East
Belfast South
East Antrim
Fermanagh & S Tyrone
Lagan Valley
Newry & Armagh
North Down
South Down
Upper Bann
Belfast North
Belfast West
East Londonderry
Foyle
Mid Ulster
North Antrim
South Antrim
Strangford
West Tyrone
The party contest was hotly contested right to the end..
And there was an overwhelming endorsement for the three aims..
Election Cycle 2016 is a joint effort by the good people at:
If you’re a candidate and would like to share your views on our questions to make Northern Ireland a better place for cycling, then we want to hear from you. Please email us at nigreenways@gmail.com and we’ll update our Election Cycle pages as soon as possible.