Cycling UK urges Northern Ireland to vote bike

• Iconic Belfast sites including the Samson and Goliath cranes, the Titanic Museum and The Big Fish lit up with pro-cycling messaging. Photos available: Skyfish
• Cycling UK and Sustrans are hosting Northern Ireland’s Active Travel Hustings ahead of the Assembly elections featuring representatives from all major parties, online at 7pm on Wednesday 13 April 
• The Assembly has recognised the climate emergency by passing the Climate Change Bill, but pressure is needed to ensure it will follow through on promises 

Iconic sites across Belfast were lit up overnight with a simple message for Northern Ireland’s future politicians: invest in the future, vote bike. 

The message came from cycling charity, Cycling UK, which took to Belfast’s streets and illuminated a number of famous landmarks, such as the Titanic Museum and The Big Fish, and what is thought to be the first time ever, the iconic Samson and Goliath cranes.  

As election campaigns gather pace across the country, the charity aims to highlight to Northern Ireland’s MLA candidates the widespread desire there is to increase cycling journeys.  

Cycling UK is encouraging political parties to be progressive in their solutions to the cost-of-living crisis. With the price at the pump coming with high costs both financially and environmentally, the charity wants to see more done to give people sustainable alternatives to driving shorter journeys. 

These elections are a chance to look forward and invest in the future. The car can’t be king for much longer if we’re going to meet our net zero targets, but it’s down to our decision-makers to make it a possibility and build resilience and choice into the way we travel. The moment to vote bike is now

Andrew McClean, engagement officer for Northern Ireland at Cycling UK

Each political party will have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to a sustainable future in Northern Ireland at the Active Travel Hustings, organised by Cycling UK, in collaboration with Sustrans, with members of the public encouraged to attend and tell decision-makers there is a popular alternative to driving: investment in active travel. 

The hustings will be broadcast online, and representatives from Alliance Party, Sinn Féin, UUP, DUP, SDLP and Green Party have all agreed to appear.  

Andrew McClean, Cycling UK’s engagement officer for Northern Ireland, comments:  

“Many People across the nation want to cycle more, because it’s cheaper, healthier, and more sustainable than defaulting to driving everywhere, and with fuel price hikes cycling becomes more attractive by the day. But for many it’s not an option due to poor infrastructure created with only motor vehicles in mind, which feels unsafe for more vulnerable road users. 

“These elections are a chance to look forward and invest in the future. The car can’t be king for much longer if we’re going to meet our net zero targets, but it’s down to our decision-makers to make it a possibility and build resilience and choice into the way we travel. The moment to vote bike is now.” 

Although the Assembly recently recognised the climate emergency through the new Climate Change Bill, Northern Ireland lags behind the rest of the UK when it comes to investment in active travel, including walking, wheeling and cycling. But political will is crucial in helping people reduce their car-dependency; the public can’t change their behaviour without infrastructure that’s fit for purpose. 

The hustings will be chaired by journalist, author and broadcaster Malachi O’Doherty. 

List of party representatives 

• Kate Nicholl, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alliance Party
• Philip McGuigan, MLA for North Antrim, Sinn Féin
• Roy Beggs, MLA for East Antrim, UUP 
• George Dorrian, DUP 
• Cara Hunter, MLA for East Derry, SDLP 
• Simon Lee, Green Party 

Join Cycling UK and Sustrans at the Active Travel Hustings online at 7pm on Wednesday 13 April to get your voice heard.

Download press images via this link: Skyfish