In March 2024, Dublin City Council began the Data Insights for Active Travel initiative. Increasing awareness of the city’s active travel patterns is its primary goal. By creating an active travel data toolkit it aims to close a gap in the information available.
The new data will inform safe and active transport options for residents and guests. This toolkit will help to guide future infrastructure planning and investment decisions.
There are two phases to the project. Phase one will focus on getting information from two active travel schemes. They are Clontarf to Dublin City Centre and Kilmainham to Thomas Street. Finding, confirming, and testing the newest advancements in active travel tracking will be the first steps.
In Phase two, the knowledge acquired will guide the making of a toolkit. The toolkit will assist in improving policy to deliver walking and biking projects across the city. This project aligns with Smart Dublin’s wider initiative to promote a consistent approach to measuring the impact of active travel across the Dublin region.The launch of the project coincided with the Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. Dublin City Council presented their work to health leaders from over 50 cities. Each year, this event brings cities from around the world together. They come to discuss and develop ideas on how to create healthier, safer, and fairer urban centres.
Dublin City Council’s Smart City and Active Travel Programme Office began this initiative. They worked with the Partnership for Health Cities, the National Transport Authority, and ADAPT to support it.
Andy Walsh, Director of the Active Travel Programme Office at Dublin City Council said “This project stands as a testament to DCC’s commitment to active travel as a cornerstone of health and well-being. By integrating advanced monitoring technologies, and data visualisation techniques, DCC aims to set a new standard for active travel infrastructure. The ultimate goal is to achieve a measurable positive impact on citizen behaviour, emissions reduction, and overall public health, while also influencing active travel policies to foster healthier urban spaces,”
Visit the Dublin City Council Data Insights for Active Travel page to learn more.