Our towns and cities will never become the bike and public transport heavens found in Nordic countries as long as those stuck in the past continue to hold all the power on Northern Ireland infrastructure decisions.
I was in Copenhagen at the weekend and much like Oslo and Amsterdam before it, the city made me dream of the possibilities available when leaders make a concerted effort to deliver for the health and wellbeing on their people.
It was freezing cold - that kind of cold that recreates a severe acupuncture session that doesn’t miss a millimetre of your face - but everywhere you looked there were people on bikes, so I don’t accept the weather argument. And what’s more they looked happy and safe going about their business, all wrapped up.
Read more: Belfast 50th most congested city in the world, report finds
They had buses, a metro and trains that took half the time to travel from the airport to the city in a taxi. And you know what, they were clean, spacious, well looked after and on time.
Outside every transport hub, bikes were piled high in double decker racks, waiting patiently for their custodians to return. To top it all off - active travel clearly came first in every public space. Cars made way for rows upon rows of cyclists, some with children in baskets on their cargo bikes.
Traffic lights favoured walkers, scooter riders and cyclists - they aren’t an afterthought - and what an incredible difference that one mindset change makes.
Bike racks were available on just about every street, hundreds of them in areas with high traffic. They even had tonnes of them outside the city cinema just across the street from my hotel.
In a city like that you don’t need a car - and that’s what we should be aiming for here. Not only will it reduce the astounding level of emissions from private car use - it would be completely transformative for the happiness and health of all our citizens.
Despite its dark evenings, Denmark is considered the happiest country in the world - and I think the fact they can add exercise seemlessly into their day - plays a huge part in that.
Then there’s the ease of access. In Belfast, Derry and other cities, towns and villages across the North, our systems don’t flow well. Nothing is designed in a way that makes it easy for walkers to get from A to B, never mind people on a bike.
Our bike lanes don’t link from transport hubs to centres, walkways are disjointed at best. We don’t have train stops where we need them and even when there are cycle lock-ups in place - they are hidden out the back, making it an even bigger effort for people to use them.
The key here is to make it easy for people and provide these things where they need and want them. Take Lanyon Place train station for example. There’s no bike storage at the exit most people use, while the pedestrian crossing out front is about a third the size of what’s actually needed during high traffic times of the day, forcing walkers into the space assigned for cars.
I can’t even imagine what it would be like to tackle our transport system if I was a wheelchair user or had a sight impairment - and it feels like those needs are not even considered when it comes to transport and travel planning.
It’s like we live in a hostile environment, where everything feels like it’s been made more difficult by design. And there’s absolutely no use in a 10-year cycle plan, when active travel is still considered secondary.
Sustrans and groups like them do great work but what we really need is a major shake-up among the ranks of DfI, a conscious decision to change their ways and back-up policies that ensure walkers, wheelers and cyclists always come first.
It’s essential to our economy, which we know will see a boost when foot flow rises. It’s essential to meeting our climate targets, through taking more cars off the roads.
And it’s essential to the improving the health and wellbing of folks across NI - who will get more exercise and get to breathe cleaner air as a result.
We just need to get it done.
I'm so over plastic plants
I know they are supposed to look nice, but every time I see plastic plants, flowers, trees and grass - my heart sinks.
Yet shopping centres, retailers and hospitality venues appear to be absolutely obsessed with them.
We know plastic is bad for the environment and these things, are a prime emitters of microplastics, which I’m sure no one wants in the atmosphere never mind their blood streams and lungs.
Yes, the real thing takes a little more effort, but when businesses claim they care about the environment and sustainability that should extend to decorations.
Victoria Square is full of the stuff in a bid to provide instagrammable backgrounds for shoppers and it seems Castle Court now has its very own plastic grass sofa set-up, which appears to have been rolled out for Valentines Day.
But both these places have plenty of light and with a little care and some water, they could keep the real thing instead.
I know it’s a little thing in the grand scheme of environmental damage - but it really does bug me when businesses say they care about the environment and then do something as ridiclous as buy a whole load of new plastic decorations to try and brighten the place up.
These things should be consigned to the history books alongside oil, gas, plastic straws and anything that’s designed to be single use.
All these wee decisions add up, after all.
Anyone for a spot of birdwatching?
The world’s biggest garden wildlife survey is back this weekend, with the RSPB calling on folks across NI to help wildlife and support their own wellbeing by spending one hour taking part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2023.
We all know how time outdoors, listening to birds and seeing nature is good for the soul.
RSPB president Dr Amir Khan said: “Working as a GP, I know just how important accessing green spaces is for our physical and mental wellbeing.
“Watching the Blue Tits and Bullfinches enjoying the feeders in my garden is a constant source of comfort for me, and being on the frontline of the NHS I am very aware that comfort is something we all need now more than ever.
“The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is a fantastic annual event, helping people across the UK to make a connection with the natural world. “Spending an hour watching and counting the birds in our gardens and green spaces over the Birdwatch weekend is a really simple way to get started – it’s great for nature and it’s great for us too.”
Last year almost 700,000 people across the UK took part, counting 11 million birds.
It’s as easy as sitting in the garden for an hour on January 27, 28 or 29, watching and recording what you see to help the RSPB to build a greater understanding of how our garden birds are faring.
You can do it from your balcony, in your garden or in your local green space, they just want to know about what you see afterwards.
Go to rspb.org.uk/birdwatch to take part.
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