The Case for Investment in Irish Infrastructure

Active travel is one of the most direct and cost-effective ways Ireland can meet its climate targets, improve public health, and reduce pressure on roads. For communities across Donegal and the wider island of Ireland, the shift towards walking and cycling for everyday journeys is already underway. For councils, engineers, and contractors, it represents a sustained programme of infrastructure investment that is only growing in scale.

At Creative Landscaping Works, we supply the Active Travel Kerbs (ATKs) or Dutch style kerbing systems and outdoor infrastructure products that make active travel routes work on the ground.

Reduces Carbon Emissions from Short Journeys

Short car journeys are among the least efficient uses of a vehicle. A car engine is cold, fuel consumption is high, and the journey itself is often slower in urban traffic than cycling or walking would be. Yet short journeys — under 5 kilometres — make up a large proportion of daily car trips in Ireland.

Replacing even a fraction of those car journeys with active travel has a measurable impact on carbon emissions. Ireland’s Climate Action Plan sets legally binding targets for emissions reductions. Transport is one of the largest contributors to Ireland’s carbon output. Active travel is one of the few genuinely scalable ways to reduce transport emissions quickly, without requiring new technology or major behavioural change beyond the journey itself.

Quality infrastructure makes that shift possible. People do not choose to walk or cycle if the route feels unsafe, uncomfortable, or poorly maintained. Proper segregated cycling lanes, good surfaces, and well-designed kerbing systems remove the barriers that stop people making the switch.

It Improves Public Health Across All Age Groups

Physical inactivity is a significant public health challenge in Ireland. Building movement into daily routines — through walking to school, cycling to work, or wheeling to the local shop — addresses this without requiring a gym membership or dedicated exercise time.

The health benefits of regular moderate physical activity are well established. Cardiovascular fitness, mental wellbeing, weight management, and reduced risk of chronic disease all improve with consistent active travel habits. For children, the daily walk or cycle to school supports physical development and concentration.

From a public health economics perspective, active travel infrastructure pays for itself over time. The cost of building a safe cycling route is modest compared to the long-term healthcare savings from a healthier, more active population.

Reduces Congestion in Irish Towns

Anyone who drives through Letterkenny, Sligo, or Galway at school drop-off time has experienced the problem first-hand. Town centres that were designed for far fewer cars now carry volumes of traffic that strain every junction and car park. Much of that traffic consists of short local journeys that could easily be made on foot or by bike if the infrastructure existed.

Good active travel infrastructure takes vehicles off the road. A protected cycling lane does not just create space for cyclists — it reduces the number of cars on the route, making the journey faster and less stressful for everyone who does need to drive. It also reduces the pressure on car parks, lowers noise levels, and makes town centres more pleasant environments for pedestrians and shoppers.

For rural communities like many in Donegal, the approach is slightly different. Here, active travel often focuses on safe routes to schools, connections between villages, and links to public transport. The scale is smaller but the impact on local quality of life is just as significant.

Why Quality Infrastructure Is the Key Factor

Active travel only works if people use it. People only use it if the infrastructure feels safe and comfortable. This is why the quality of materials and design matters so much.

A poorly designed cycle lane — one that places cyclists too close to moving traffic, uses inadequate kerbing, or has a surface that deteriorates quickly in Irish weather — will not attract users. It will sit empty while people continue to drive. Public money spent on substandard infrastructure is wasted.

The NTA’s design standards exist precisely to prevent this. The Cycle Design Manual specifies the geometry, surface quality, and physical separation required for a cycling route that people will actually use. Dutch-standard kerbing — the type of raised kerb that physically separates the cyclist from vehicle traffic — is a central element of that specification.

Creative Landscaping Works supplies ATKs that meet these Dutch-standard requirements. Our kerbing products are designed for the conditions Irish roads experience — wet winters, frost, heavy vehicle loads at kerb edges, and the wear that comes from sustained daily use. Specifying the right kerbing system from the start is one of the most important decisions on any active travel project.

The Economic Case for Active Travel Investment

Active travel infrastructure supports local economies as well as individual health and the climate. Town centres with good walking and cycling access attract more footfall than those dominated by car traffic. Shops benefit when customers can arrive easily on foot. Cafés and small businesses near well-used cycling routes see increased trade.

For councils, NTA active travel funding represents significant capital investment in local infrastructure. Getting projects right — delivering schemes that meet design standards, use quality materials, and achieve good usage levels — builds the case for further funding in subsequent years. A well-delivered active travel project is an asset that serves the community for decades.

The durability of materials is directly linked to long-term economic value. ATKs that lasts with minimal maintenance represent better value than cheaper alternatives that need replacement within a decade. At Creative Landscaping Works, we advise contractors and councils on product specification with this long-term view in mind.

How Active Travel Supports Rural Communities Specifically

Active travel is sometimes framed as an urban concern — cycle lanes in Dublin or Galway. But rural Ireland has just as much to gain, and the NTA’s programme reflects this with dedicated rural active travel funding.

In counties like Donegal, active travel projects connect villages, provide safe school routes, and create paths that serve older residents and people with mobility needs as much as commuting cyclists. A well-built footpath between a rural village and a primary school changes how families move through their community. A segregated cycling route on a busy rural road removes a genuine safety hazard.

For rural contractors working on NTA-funded projects, the technical requirements are the same as in urban areas. Design standards still apply. Kerbing specifications must be met. Materials must be suitable for rural road conditions, which often means dealing with heavier agricultural vehicle movements, less predictable drainage, and roads that see less regular maintenance than urban streets.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Importance of Active Travel

Why is active travel important for Ireland’s climate targets? Transport is one of Ireland’s largest sources of carbon emissions. Replacing short car journeys with walking and cycling directly reduces those emissions. Active travel is one of the most scalable ways Ireland can meet its legally binding Climate Action targets in the transport sector.

How does active travel improve public health? Walking and cycling for everyday journeys builds regular physical activity into daily routines without requiring extra time or gym membership. Regular moderate activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health challenges. Children who walk or cycle to school show better concentration and physical development.

Does active travel infrastructure reduce car traffic? Yes. Quality active travel routes attract users who would otherwise drive. Fewer cars on the road means reduced congestion, faster journey times for those who still drive, and less pressure on car parks and junctions.

What makes active travel infrastructure successful? The quality of the design and materials is the key factor. Routes must feel safe and comfortable to attract regular users. This means proper physical separation from traffic using Dutch-standard kerbing, good surfaces, adequate lighting, and design that meets NTA Cycle Design Manual standards.

Why do Irish councils invest in active travel? Irish councils invest in active travel because NTA funding makes it accessible, it meets national climate targets, it improves public health outcomes, it reduces road congestion, and it makes town centres more attractive and economically active. Councils that deliver successful schemes can access further funding in subsequent years.

Where can contractors source NTA-compliant Active Travel Kerbs? Creative Landscaping Works supplies Dutch-standard ATKs to contractors and councils across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Our team can advise on the correct product specification for your project. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

See our range of ATK HERE

Creative Landscaping Works is based in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, and supplies Active Travel Kerbs and outdoor infrastructure products across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your active travel project.