Dutch trade mission cycles into Cork to promote biking

A DUTCH cycling trade mission visited Cork City on Thursday and was hosted by Cork City Council.

Deputy ambassador of the Netherlands to Ireland, Nora Dessing, told The Echo, “We noticed that Cork is stamping-up their efforts with cycling infrastructure, and we have a lot of experience in the Netherlands, so we saw a really good opportunity.”

The Netherlands is renowned for its bike-friendly infrastructure. It has 35,000km of cycling paths and 22.5m bicycles.

Ms Dessing said, “What is going to really accelerate cycling in Cork is the segregation of paths to make everything safer, because a lot of people still feel unsafe and putting a cycle sign on a bus lane is not going to cut it.

“Also, making connections between what’s already there, to make the full commute, at the moment you have a really nice part, then you’re suddenly in the middle of the road, so connectivity in Cork will be a real game changer.”

The mission consisted of 16 Dutch businesses in various sectors of cycling, including bicycle suppliers, providers of bike parking solutions, and providers of infrastructure design and planning services.

They met with Cork City Council this morning and discussed the city’s plans and how it was done in the Netherlands, before an event with Cork Chamber, where Dutch companies made pitches and networked.

It comes as a delegation from Cork City Council travelled to the Netherlands earlier this year to learn more about Dutch cycling and transportation policy.

“Cycling is freedom in the Netherlands,” Ms Dessing said, explaining that “a lot of young people who can’t drive yet go to sports club or to meet their friends, rather than having their parents drop them off.

“It is freedom and a healthier choice, and there are also, of course, benefits to do with sustainability and carbon emissions,” she said, adding that right road transport accounts for 29% of emissions in Cork City.

“As cycling becomes ever more vital in transforming Cork’s transportation system, there will be an enhanced need for companies which can provide the equipment and develop and operate the necessary infrastructure.”

In the aftermath of Brexit, economic and political ties have deepened between the countries, making the Netherlands now the sixth-largest market for Irish goods.

The recent inauguration of the new Dutch honorary consul for Cork Dr Val Cummins, represented another landmark moment in Cork’s long connection with the Netherlands.

Margot Daris, project manager at the Dutch Cycling Embassy, said “It has been a great privilege to host visitors from the Cork City Council and many other Irish local authorities in the Netherlands, where they have learned how cycling creates a greener, safer and healthier transportation system.

“Bringing leading Dutch cycling businesses to Cork has been the next step in a growing and fruitful relationship, and we look forward to many more in future.”