Launch of Northern Ireland’s Active Travel Delivery Plan

In the week of November 11th, project manager Shelley Bontje traveled to Northern Ireland to engage with key stakeholders on advancing active travel. The visit was anchored by the Department for Infrastructure’s launch event of their new Active Travel Delivery Plan, built upon insights gained from their study visit to the Netherlands in 2023. This event brought together local community leaders, experts, and advocates together to celebrate a step towards their shared goal of enhancing sustainable transport in Northern Ireland.

Representing the Dutch Cycling Embassy (DCE), Shelley Bontje emphasised the importance of hardware, software, and orgware in the development of active travel networks, underscoring how infrastructure can facilitate easy and safe movement for all road users. The Transport Minister, John O’Dowd reminded us that over the past 60 years, we have undergone a mobility transition towards cars, and though it won’t be easy, we now know that we are capable of transition and can rediscover tried-and-true principles to guide us to a more sustainable, human-centered infrastructure paradigm. Engaging in discussions on transport network hierarchies and shared space design, Shelley shared case studies from the Netherlands to provide takeaways for the local context.

This trip highlighted the importance of knowledge sharing between cultures and contexts, as we all have something to learn from one another. Northern Ireland was able to learn from decades of Dutch practice and innovation in integrating active travel into daily routines, while the Netherlands will be able to learn from the exciting mobility innovations emerging from Queen’s University Belfast. 

Continuing on our collaboration in 2023, this trip continues to lay the groundwork for continued partnership between the DCE and the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure. Through knowledge sharing and united efforts towards a common goal, we look forward to continuing to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable transport future in Northern Ireland and beyond.