In June, Friends of the Earth joined with the transport charity, Sustrans to organise a conference aimed at influencing Northern Ireland government to increase its spend on cycling schemes and infrastructure within the capital, Belfast. The conference, 'Belfast Cycle City: Visions for the Future', was chaired by Challenge Europe partner, Jim Kitchen (NI Sustainable Development Commission) and was attended by approximately 200 individuals, including town planners, government officials, cycling experts and enthusiasts from across the city.

During the event, advocates from the Challenge Europe ‘Promoting Urban Sustainability’ group had an opportunity to introduce their project which involved research into the benefits a cycle rental scheme would deliver to Belfast, including a comparative study of the various bicycle rental schemes that have been launched in cities around the world, focusing specifically on Dublin but also including Paris, Lyon, Blackpool, Bicincittà (Italy), Barcelona, Montreal, and various cities across Germany. The group also conducted a survey to gauge the level of public interest for a bicycle rental scheme in Belfast and presented their findings by means of an official report to senior government representatives and other relevant stakeholders during the Belfast Cycle City event.

Northern Ireland Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy, spoke at the conference and officially commended the report produced by our NI/Ireland Challenge Europe advocates. He then went even further to confirm that the ‘Promoting Urban Sustainability’ report would be used to inform a project being set up by his department and Belfast City Council to consider the feasibility of introducing a public bike hire scheme to Belfast.
Such an endorsement from an NI government Minister and other senior officials is a highly impressive achievement for this NI/Ireland Challenge Europe project group and their comprehensive policy report may indeed help to transform Belfast in the years to come!