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Cyclists have urged infrastructure and transport chiefs to “step up” and build the active travel infrastructure people want.

The comments follow an All-Party Cycling Group meeting with the Department for Infrastructure on Wednesday.

Andrew McClean from Cycling UK said businesses are firmly behind the calls for less car parking and more emphasis on active travel.

Read more: Belfast Cycle Network Plan 'already at risk of collapse', says councillor

He told us young people “want to be able to live close enough to work to walk and cycle”.

Andrew added: “Businesses say ‘we are all doing our bit - we are putting lockers and showers in, bringing bike mechanics in and running events’.

“But ultimately, if DfI aren’t going to make it safe for people to cycle to the office, they are not going to do it.

“That was the outcome of this - DfI really need to step up and build infrastructure and maintain the paltry infrastructure that does exist.”

Mr McClean said the All Party Cycling Group also voiced concerns NI is yet to adopt GB changes to the Highway Code that put vulnerable road users like pedestrians, wheelers and cyclists before cars, which “cause the most damage”.

“We’ve been calling for it for about a year and a half,” he added.

He also said the ongoing issue of pavement and bike lane parking also came up, with one proposed solution being painting double yellow lines on the road in such places.

“DfI said that’s not a bad idea... it’s such an obvious solution but now they are only considering it.”

In the meantime, he said the view was aired that “one of the most important things we can do is enforce existing laws”.

We have reported before how DfI said it up to police to enforce the issue, while police said it is down to traffic wardens - and people continue to park on bike lanes and on footpaths.

But despite all of the issues aired, there is some hope.

Andrew added: “From my dealings with DfI I do feel the culture has shifted over the last year.

“It does feel that it’s going to be very slow to have delivery but at least I can say there’s progress in rhetoric and more staff being put into the active travel stuff.

“That’s good to see and it’s going to make a difference.”

Cycling UK say cycling infrastructure generates £5.62 per every £1 spent so they would like to see high quality cycling infrastructure and well-developed networks of routes to help decongest Belfast.

The city is currently the fifth most congested city in the UK costing £102 million each year.

They argue that commuters and people want to make shorter journeys but feel they have no choice but to drive, due to a lack of safe cycling facilities.

But that “business can’t keep subsidising Northern Ireland’s car dependency”.

“Businesses such as the Linen Quarter and Ulster University see the benefits of a workforce that can cycle, and are going to great lengths to make it easier for their employees from creating secure parking to providing showers,” added Andrew.

“The missing link however is how people get from home to their workplace safely – that’s what the Department for Infrastructure can deliver on.”

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