Trinty College Takes To Two Wheels

Dublin students are to take advantage of the National Transport Authority's 'Smarter Travel Initiative' and get on their bikes.

Trinity College Dublin has joined the growing list of Irish universities implementing the scheme after NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, University College Dublin and Dublin Institute of Technology, had already signed up for the initiative.

Now, Trinity College also encourages students and staff to use sustainable and healthier modes of transport.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague officially rolled out the programme alongside the university's Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast this week, with Mr Montague praising the role that the university was playing in making Dublin a safer city by encouraging more people to cycle.

"The more people we can get to cycle, the calmer the city centre traffic is, and that actually reduces fatalities, and the research shows that the safest cities in the world are the cities with the most cyclists," he said.

Some of the elements of the programme announced yesterday include the installation of an additional places for bike parking, continued assessment of travel surveys and the hosting of a number of activities for students and staff including bike training and maintenance workshops, cycling challenges and information sessions.

"Wherever we put in smarter travel initiatives we see a big increase in the number of people coming by bus, walking and cycling," Mr Montague told the Irish Times.

The programme for Trinity College is called the 'Smarter Travel Trinity' and the university has said that they hope to make walking, cycling, using public transport and car pooling easier travel options for both students and staff.

"Promoting smarter travel in Trinity makes sense for a university that is as centrally located as Trinity College.

"It also supports the fact that Trinity is committed to sustainable development throughout its activities as well as being a university that encourages health and well being," said Dr Prendergast, the university's most senior don.

(BMcC/GK)