Active Travel Towns - Smarter Travel

Active Travel 

Towns 

STREAM 2 FUNDING APPLICATION 

Submitted to the Department of Transport, Tourism and 

Sport 

May 2012

Table of Contents 

Summary form for the Implementation of Walking and Cycling 

Strategy 

Project Title 

Project Detail 

Project Costs 

Evaluation and Delivery Reports 

Project Synergies 

Project Promotion and Information Dissemination 

Appendix One 

Appendix Two

Summary form 

for the 

implementation 

of Walking and 

Cycling Strategy

� 

Summary form for the Implementation of Walking and Cycling Strategy 

Section 1: Project Title: Cavan Town North-South Cycle Route 

Name and Address of Local 

Authority 

Contact person/proposed project 

manager 

Cavan County Council 

Courthouse 

Farnham Street 

Cavan 

Co. Cavan 

Brendan Jennings 

Telephone +353(0)49 4378475 or +353(0)87 2364682 

e-mail bjennings@cavancoco.ie 

Town proposed for the 

implementation of programme of 

walking and cycling measures 

Population of town 

Planned duration of project/works 

(months). 

Planned start date 

Cavan Town 

The population of Cavan Town and its rural environs is 

9,819 as of the 2011. 

12 Months 

A project commencement date of July 2012 has been 

earmarked upon funding being made available. 

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Project 

Detail

Section 2: Project Detail 

Briefly outline details of 

proposals for the development of 

walking and cycling 

infrastructure. 

(Detailed schedule of works 

should be included in your main 

project proposal) 

� 

This project proposal relates to the establishment of a 

6km high quality on-road cycle lane on the L1532 from 

Loreto Cross to it’s junction with the R212 at Latt Cross. 

The route continues through the town centre along 

Farnham Street to the Ballinagh Road (R935) on the 

south. 

The proposed route forms an integral component of the 

Cavan Town Walking and Cycling Strategy, attached to 

this application. 

The approach to development of the route will be to 

provide, in so far as possible, a high quality cycle lane 

through the town. The lane will be complimented with 

junction upgrades, review of speeds, traffic management 

measures (especially outside schools) and a review of 

parking on the main cycle route corridor. 

The proposed facility will run along the spine of the town 

taking in large residential areas as well as having 

educational and commercial facilities within its catchment 

area. The 3 largest employers in Cavan Town centre, 

various educational institutions from primary level to third 

level, other small businesses and various residential 

areas are located adjacent to this route. (See Map 1, 

Appendix 1). A detailed schedule of works for the project 

is included in Appendix 2. 

Based on 2006 Census data, there are over 2,000 

students attending schools along the proposed route. As 

such, it is hoped that in combination with ‘soft measures’ 

(outlined in the next section) that a shift to more 

sustainable means for transport for the journey to school 

can be encouraged. 

This route will form the first phase of a larger cycle 

network around the town which will include a 7.1km cycle 

route through the north of the town as highlighted in Map 

1, Appendix 1. The route will also compliment proposals 

for delivery of the National Cycle Network through Cavan 

town, highlighted in Map 3 of Appendix 1. 

The proposed route currently has a comprehensive 

network of footpaths which have been improved and 

renovated in recent years and as such, improvements to 

these facilities are not required. Improvements will, 

however, be made to the few junctions which exist along 

the route to make them as amenable and attractive as 

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possible to all road users. 

Cavan County Council has, in recent years, committed to 

bringing about the necessary changes to make 

sustainable travel in the county a reality. The 2007 Cavan 

Town and Environs Transportation Study, which was 

adopted by the members of Cavan County Council, 

identified the weaknesses that exist and provided 

solutions on how to address them. Issues and 

opportunities identified in the Study have been 

incorporated into the Walking and Cycling Strategy (See 

Appendix 1). The Strategy includes an agreed list of 

actions for delivery in the coming years to improve the 

environment for pedestrians and cyclists as well as the 

promotion of these sustainable modes. This Walking and 

Cycling Strategy and the Smarter Travel ethos has full 

political support from Cavan County Council as identified 

in the Smarter Travel Areas Competition Application.� 

With regards support for project delivery, Cavan County 

Council has proposed a project team to oversee delivery 

of the Walking and Cycling Strategy 2012. The team for 

this project includes individuals from various sections of 

Cavan County Council, each who have a wealth of 

experience in the different aspects of this project. The 

overall project will be managed by Brendan Jennings, 

Senior Executive Engineer, Roads and Transportation. 

Other team members are:� 

� Alan Lyons, Cavan Town Engineer; 

� Blaithin O’Reilly, Cavan Sports Partnership; 

� Daniel Peeters, I.T.; 

� Emer Coveney, Social Inclusion Unit; 

� Emma Breiden, Accessibility Officer; 

� Finian Coleman, Road Safety; 

� Joanne Hayes, Tourism Officer; 

� John Wilson, Road Design; 

� Nadine Crotty, Cavan Sports Partnership; 

� Peter Cork, Environment Section; 

� Sinead Fox, Environment Section; and 

� Una McEntee, Press Officer.� 

Although this project is being promoted by Cavan County 

Council, it will be put in place with the cooperation of 

various stakeholders, namely HSE, Department of 

Agriculture, Cavan VEC, each of the five schools, Cavan 

Chamber of Commerce, other local businesses, the 

majority of whom are located along the route of Phase 1 

of the project.� 

Letters from each of these stakeholders was previously 

presented to the Department of Transport as part of our 

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Briefly outline details of how 

proposed infrastructural 

measures will be supported by 

allied behavioural change 

interventions. 

� 

2009 Smarter Travel Project Fund application. Due to 

time constraints in preparation of the current bid, it was 

not possible to get updated letters. However, the support 

of our stakeholders in progressing the Smarter Travel 

agenda in Cavan remains strong.� 

Figure 1: Farnham Street, Cavan Town 

An indicative delivery schedule for the project is as 

follows: 

- July 2012: Confirm receipt of funding: 

- July 2012: Commission detailed design of proposed 

route; 

- September 2012: Commission contractors for project 

delivery; 

- December 2012: Prepare Progress Report for 

Department of Transport; 

- June 2012: Finalise project delivery. 

In addition to infrastructure measures, delivery of the 

Cavan Town Walking and Cycling Strategy (finalised in 

January 2012) will be supported by the implementation of 

a range of ‘soft measures’ to encourage the take up of 

walking and cycling in schools and workplaces. Some of 

the actions in this regard include: 

- Commence a county wide promotional campaign on 

sustainable travel, its benefits, and how various sectors 

of the community can be involved; 

- Develop workplace travel plans for Cavan Local 

Authorities with the initial emphasis on car pooling; 

- Engage with the 5 largest employers and agencies to 

achieve measurable progress including workplace 

travel plans; and 

- Engage with all schools in the area (6 National and 4 

Secondary schools) and parents on a training and 

education programme that can compliment and expand 

the Green School Programme with emphasis on the 

many benefits of walking and cycling to school. 

Soft measures such as educational and training 

campaigns are essential in the success of this route. 

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� 

These measures will be imperative to changing attitudes 

and perceptions regarding cycling. 

The targeting of school children will be integral to this 

awareness raising campaign. Getting a significant 

proportion of school children cycling within Cavan Town 

will have the following immediate and long term benefits: 

� Reducing traffic congestion in and around the 

town at school opening and closing times; 

� School children will be more inclined to cycle if 

they see their peers participating in the activity; 

and 

� It will create a new generation where cycling is 

seen as the primary means of urban travel. 

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Project 

Costs

Section 3: Project Cost 

For each project element provide Estimated Cost 

€ 

� 

6� 

Requested DTT&S 

contribution 

€ 

Education and awareness campaigns 30,000 20,000 

Detailed Design 30,000 10,000 

Bicycle Counters 10,000 10,000 

Construction Phase 717,200 635,200 

Additional Items* 35,000 0 

Total 822,200 675,200 

Anticipated drawdown date(s) 

October 2012, December 2012, March 2013 and July 

2013 

* Additional Items refers to a percentage allowance for contingencies and non-measured items 

during the construction process. 

A full breakdown of the infrastructure costs can be found in Appendix 1 attached. 

Cavan County Council will be making an overall contribution to the value of €147,000 to the 

project which includes a direct investment of €100,000. In addition, Cavan County Council are 

fully committed to delivering this project on time and within budget and hence will make 

significant labour and human resources available for delivery of the project from our engineering, 

tourism and planning teams as well as other sectors of the local authority. 

As most of the proposed route is on existing carriageway and the works will mainly consist of the 

reallocation of road space as opposed to new infrastructural provision, the costs involved in new 

paving and installation of drainage networks have minimised, however an allowance for minor 

improvements to the drainage network has been allocated in the cost estimates. 

Much of the construction cost outlined above can be attributed to the provision of a red coloured 

surface finish which will be applied to all on-road cycle lanes. The provision of this surface is 

very important in delineating this particular piece of carriageway, which has been designated for 

use by cyclists, and will be essential in motorists heeding cyclists in an area where motorists are 

not traditionally used to encountering cyclists on the road. The provision of this surface finish will 

make the route safer and more identifiable for both cyclists and motorists alike.

Evaluation 

and Delivery 

Reports

Section 4: Evaluation and Delivery Reports 

Provide proposals for an evidence based assessment of potential demand in terms of 

local users and potential visitor and tourist user numbers. 

Assessment should include evidence based estimates of: 

� Annual user numbers; and 

� Reduction in short distance car journeys. 

The outline targets to be achieved by the implementation of this project are as follows: 

� 

� Based on the 2,000 children attending schools along the route, it is intended to increase 

bicycle usage from 0.3% to 5% by December 2013 with subsequent incremental year on 

year increases; 

� There are in excess of 1,500 students attending the third level Cavan Institute. Although 

the large majority of students travel long distances by bus on a daily basis we aim to 

target those residing locally and increase their bike use by 25% on a 2012 baseline; 

� For the 1,500 adults employed along the route we aim to achieve a significant uptake of 

usage of the route for commuting to work reasons. An increase of 15% is targeted, based 

on a 2011 baseline (CSO data to be released); 

� 52% of journeys in the Cavan Urban Area are undertaken by private car (2006 Census). 

This project, in combination with wider transport proposals, will encourage a decrease in 

car trips to work of at least 2% within two years; and 

� Based on the anticipated reduction in car usage we aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 14 

tonnes per year through the implementation of this project, supported by an 

encouragement in modal shift in schools and workplaces. 

Evaluation reports will be requested by the Department on completion of the project. 

Please indicate: How the project deliverables will be measured and assessed; and details 

of proposed route user monitoring. 

Monitoring and evaluation will form an integral part of this project and the installation of 

permanent bicycle counters at key locations along the proposed route will be used to evaluate 

the success of the route going forward and to set additional future patronage targets. It is 

proposed a baseline figure against which patronage on the route can be measured is identified 

within the first few months of implementation and future patronage targets to be identified from 

the results of the initial benchmark. The continued success of the route will be assured via: 

� The installation of permanent automated bicycle counters along the route to determine 

usage and uptake on an annual basis; 

� Observational counts of pedestrians taken at regular intervals at key locations; 

� Record data on the number of students and workers who participate in training and 

awareness raising sessions; 

� Monitor which employers in the town are participating in the bike to work scheme; and 

� Analyse change in patterns of cycling related tourism. 

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Project 

Synergies

Section 5: Project Synergies 

In brief outline how the project aligns with other existing transport, tourism and sport 

programmes/locations (e.g. other infrastructural programmes, Green Schools programme, 

Work place travel planning, tourist attractions/visitor centres etc.) 

The proposed scheme supports objectives of the Cavan Town Development Plan 2008 to 2014, 

as follows: 

� 

� To develop a safer, more efficient and integrated transport network within Cavan, with 

improvements to the road network, other forms of the transport network including public 

transport, cycle ways and to create a pedestrian friendly environment, and to 

� Provide for improved pedestrian and cycle linkages between residential areas, central car 

parks and retail areas. 

Plans for the National Cycle Network (NCN) through County Cavan as well as Monaghan and 

Leitrim have recently been proposed. Although the proposed NCN route will bypass Cavan 

Town, it will branch off at one point to provide access to Cavan Town, this link will overlap with a 

future phase of the proposed Cavan Town Cycle Network, as can be seen in Map 3, Appendix 1. 

Although the proposed Cavan Town Cycle Route has been developed primarily for the benefit of 

commuter cyclists, linking it into the NCN will reinforce the role of Cavan Town as a hub on the 

NCN and encourage a cycling culture in the town. 

The NCN and the current project combine to support tourism objectives identified for the County 

and outlined in the County Development Plan 2008 to 2014, as follows: 

‘Changing social trends are resulting in increasing leisure time and a stronger emphasis on the 

need for recreational activity. The Planning Authority aims to facilitate such trends by maintaining 

the existing range of recreational facilities in the County, and by the provision of a 

comprehensive programme of new and extended facilities, which will be implemented as 

finances permit. The Planning Authority recognises the role that recreational facilities have in 

making the environment more attractive to the tourist industry and in improving the quality of life 

of the local resident. Therefore the Planning Authority will encourage preservation of existing 

open spaces and the development of further recreational facilities’. 

The route will indirectly link with public transport facilities in Cavan Town and will offer an 

exceptional opportunity to utilise the recently installed bicycle shelters which Cavan town erected 

at six locations in the town as part of a previous smarter travel funding stream. 

Because cycling is currently perceived as being unsafe, and while the proposed infrastructural 

changes will help improve this image, the role of educating all road users must play an intrinsic 

part in improving mode share in Cavan. Opportunities to improve education of cyclists and noncyclists 

regarding road safety will be pursued through schools and workplaces through training 

and provision of educational materials. We will work with our road safety team in this regard. 

A number of schools are located along the route. These range from primary to third level. They 

are as follows: 

� St Felims National School; 

� Loreto College; 

� St Pats Secondary School; 

� Breifne College; and 

� Cavan Institute. 

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These are all significant educational establishments and the proposed route has been 

deliberately chosen to ensure these are within the catchment area as, has been mentioned, a 

change in the travel habits of school children are being directly targeted in the selection of this 

route. 

Phase one of the route passes the Cavan County GAA grounds of Kingspan Breffni Park as it 

heads through town and so will provide a sustainable means of accessing this recreational 

ground for children to access playing facilities as well as offering a sustainable solution to 

accessing the ground on summer matchdays. This will reduce the traffic congestion before and 

after the match and also reduce the amount of parked vehicles outside the ground during the 

game. 

Medical facilities will also be accessible along the route with St Felims HSE facility being located 

along the route on the Ballyhaise Road towards the northern extent of the town. A future phase 

of the proposed Cavan Town Northern Cycle Route / National Cycle Network, along the section 

of dismantled railway, also proposes a future access to the back of Cavan General Hospital, the 

town’s largest employer. 

� 

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Project 

Promotion and 

Information 

Dissemination

Section 6: Project Promotion and Information Dissemination 

In brief, outline proposed project promotion and information dissemination measures. 

We will engage with the target group by initiating contact firstly with the major schools along the 

proposed route. We will engage with these schools through existing contacts that we have 

established through the Cavan Sports Partnership and with Junior Achievement Ireland. 

Comhairle na nÓg (Junior Council) is another body that will be useful as a means of engaging 

young people. Comhairle na nÓg is managed by Cavan City Council. We will also liaise with 

employers who are located on/near the cycle route to gauge their commitment to promoting 

sustainable travel practices within their workforce. As mentioned above, it will also be 

ascertained how many of these employers are currently participating in the bike to work scheme. 

General public awareness will be generated through a concerted publicity campaign. This 

campaign will involve the preparation of a communication plan to ensure that the launch and 

ongoing promotion of the cycle route will be communicated to the public effectively. The plan will 

contain a number of steps that will generate awareness of, and an interest in, this initiative. 

The communication plan will ensure that outputs and achievements of the Cavan Town Cycle 

Route Project are communicated and disseminated effectively to a wide audience by achieving 

the following milestones; 

� 

� Launch event for the project to announce the development and initiate consultation with 

press releases and photo opportunities; 

� Printed display stand for schools, workplaces and community organisations; 

� Poster design competition in schools; 

� Regular press articles; 

� Dissemination of information through formal structures, boards and councils; 

� Vox pop interviews around the town to coincide with the opening of the route; and 

� Web presence for the cycle route primarily on the Cavan County Council website but with 

links to its webpage on other relevant sites such as Cavan Sports Partnership and 

Comhairle nÓg. The website will include maps and further information. 

Communication Media 

Various media will be employed in the implementation of the communication plan including; radio 

and print media, one to one interviews, meetings with stakeholders, posters and leaflets, written 

correspondence, journal publications such as Local Authority Times, staff newsletters, 

presentations and exhibitions in schools, workplaces and public buildings. 

Acknowledgement 

We will acknowledge the financial assistance of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport 

at all stages of the development and promote and publicise the Smarter Travel brand wherever 

possible. 

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Appendix One

Cavan Town and Environs 

Walking and Cycling Strategy 

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1 Background 

Cavan Town and Environs Walking and Cycling Strategy January 2012 2 

This Walking and Cycling Strategy has been prepared on behalf of Cavan County Council with the aim of 

providing a clear plan for the development of sustainable travel patterns in Cavan Town and its Environs. 

Reducing traffic congestion and car dependency will be central to this strategy in a town which has historically 

suffered from high car patronage levels and very low participation levels in walking and cycling for either 

recreational or commuting purposes. School drop off and pick up times have been identified as periods of 

particularly high congestion within the town and the targeting of schools within this strategy will be essential in 

the reduction of car trips in the town. 

The Strategy has been prepared in cognisance of national targets for walking and cycling set out within 

Smarter Travel, A New Transport Policy for Ireland. The target is to increase national participation levels in 

cycling by 80% and walking by 50% from their current levels by 2020. This strategy aims to negotiate the 

various barriers in Cavan Town which may prevent these targets being achieved. 

The following report outlines this strategy through identification of the following: 

• Policy context that this strategy will fall into at a national, regional and local level; 

• Identifying the current travel and transportation trends in Cavan town; 

• Existing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists; 

• Strategy vision, objectives and targets; 

• An action plan for implementation, including both infrastructure and soft measures; and 

• A plan for monitoring and evaluation of the strategy. 

Figure 1.1: Cavan Town and its Environs 

The study area for the strategy includes Cavan Town and its 

Environs, an indicative boundary for this area is as set out in 

Figure 1.1. 

All targeted deliverables contained herein will be delivered 

by Cavan County Council in conjunction with Cavan Town 

Council and the various local stakeholders.

2 Policy Context 


In the development of this walking and cycling strategy for Cavan Town reference was made to all necessary 

policy documents at a local, regional and national level. 

2.1 Local Policy Context 

Cavan Town and Environs Development Plan 2008 – 2014 

This commitment to developing a dedicated strategy for the promotion of a walking and cycling in and around 

Cavan Town is displayed within the County Cavan Development Plan 2008-2014 in the following statement 

and objectives: 

“Cycling and walking are environmentally friendly, fuel efficient and healthy modes of transport to work, 

school, shopping and recreational purposes. It is considered an efficient fast and relatively inexpensive 

form of transport and its development is in line with the principles of sustainable development. The 

overall purpose of these objectives is to encourage the increased use of walking and cycling as a 

mode of transport.” 

Objectives 

• To promote and facilitate the development of cycling and walking facilities in the Town and Environs 

Area. 

• To promote the development of cycling by the development of cycle links. 

• To encourage the provision of secure bicycle parking facilities in towns, at neighbourhood centres, at 

public facilities such as schools, libraries and in all new developments (refer to car and bicycle parking 

standards). 

2.2 Regional Policy Context 

County Cavan Development Plan 2008 – 2014 

Improving the standard of transportation infrastructure through the guidance set out in this Development Plan 

is of great importance to Cavan County Council. It recognises that the standard of transport related 

infrastructure within the County has greatly improved in recent years and it is the aim of Cavan County Council 

that accessibility will improve further throughout the life of this Plan. Cavan County Council aim to promote all 

forms of sustainable transport within the County and to improve access by integrating responsible land use 

planning with appropriate transport systems. This will be based on the sustainability of resources and the 

development of additional transport infrastructure where walking and cycling will be of particular importance. 

One of the explicit objectives relating to walking and cycling within the Development Plan is: 

• To provide safer routes to educational establishments within the County to encourage walking and 

cycling.

2.3 National Policy Context 

Smarter Travel: A Sustainable Transport Future 2009 - 2020 


In 2009, the Department of Transport launched the Smarter Travel policy as the new national transport policy. 

The policy focuses particularly on how existing unsustainable transport and travel patterns experienced in 

Ireland might be tackled. The main objectives of the Strategy are as follows: 

- Reduce the overall travel demand; 

- Maximise the efficiency of the existing transport network; 

- Reduce reliance on fossil fuels; 

- Reduce transport emissions; and 

- Improve accessibility to transport. 

In order to achieve these objectives, the government has set some key targets 

which includes the reduction of car commuting from 65% to 45% with the remainder 

of trips made up of more sustainable travel options such as cycling, walking and 

public transport. 

A multi faceted approach to achieving the objectives and targets set out in the 

Strategy is proposed including: transport and land use planning, employment policy, 

technology, communications and energy. 

National Cycle Policy Framework 

The National Cycle Policy Framework sets out to act as a base document to which all local authorities can 

refer to for advice in implementing measures which will improve the image and promote the uptake of cycling 

in any given area. It sets out a number of objectives which relate closely to what Cavan are attempting to 

achieve in the development of this walking and cycling strategy. A number of these which are considered 

most relevant to the implementation of cycling measures in Cavan are mentioned below. 

- “Support the planning, development and design of towns and cities in a cycling 

and pedestrian friendly way”; 

- “Ensure that the urban road infrastructure (with the exception of motorways) is 

designed / retrofitted so as to be cyclist-friendly and that traffic management 

measures are also cyclist friendly”; 

- “Provide cycling-friendly routes to all schools, adequate cycling parking facilities 

within schools, and cycling training to all school pupils”; and 

- “Improve the image of cycling and promote cycling using “soft interventions” such 

as promotional campaigns, events etc”. 

- “Improve driver education and driving standards so that there is a greater 

appreciation for the safety needs of cyclists”; and 

- “Improve enforcement of traffic laws to enhance cyclist safety and respect for 

cyclists”. 

The final three objectives mentioned above are perhaps the most relevant in the context of Cavan Town as 

cycling currently has a negative image in the area and the current lack of infrastructural provision and its low 

participation levels have exacerbated this lack of awareness to the benefits if cycling as a viable mode of 

travelling, particularly within a substantial urban area such as this.

National Cycle Manual 


The National Cycle Manual embraces the Principles of sustainable safety which aims to create a safe traffic 

environment for all road users, cyclists in particular. It offers guidance on integrating the bike into the overall 

infrastructural design of urban areas. The Manual challenges planners and engineers to incorporate cycling 

within transport networks more proactively than before. It identifies 5 primary needs of cyclists which should be 

taken into account when any infrastructure incorporating cyclists is being developed, these are: 

- Road Safety; 

- Coherence; 

- Directness; 

- Attractiveness; and 

- Comfort. 

The policy offers a quantifiable measurement of the degree to which the needs of the cyclist is met through 

addressing the following criteria: 

- Pavement condition index; 

- Number of adjacent cyclists; 

- Number of conflicts; 

- Junction time delay; and 

- HGV influence. 

It hopes this will offer a tangible idea of how suitable a route is for cyclists and will also identify the need for 

improvement on certain routes. The main body of the policy in this framework is taken from existing policy 

documents such as the National Cycle Policy Framework, National Spatial strategy, Road Safety Strategy 

2007 – 2012, amongst others. Practical design advice is laid out on topics such as the layout and geometry of 

cycle lanes aswell as advice on maintaining the quality of established cycle lanes and tracks. Following the 

advice set out by this document will ensure that any cycle routes constructed will be constructed to meet the 

needs of the cyclist first and foremost. 

National Cycle Network Scoping Study 2010 

The National Cycle Network Scoping Study is Irelands first significant policy document related specifically to 

cycling and was introduced in 2010 with the stated aim of creating a strong cycling culture in Ireland. It aims to 

connect the main urban centres in the country and the corridors will share use with walking wherever possible. 

An ambitious target of 10% of all trips in Ireland being made by bicycle by 2020 has been indicated as a 

deliverable of this study. An indicative network of regional cycling corridors was identified by the study and 

when combined, these corridors formed the basis of the national network.


3 Travel and Transport in Cavan Town 

The development of a walking and cycling strategy within Cavan Town has come about with one simple aim, to 

reduce the current dominance of car based travel within the town and its environs and to encourage the use of 

more sustainable transport modes. 

As of 2006 the population of Cavan Town and its environs is 7,883. This represents an overall rise of 1,785 

residents to the levels recorded in 2002, a significant 29% increase in just four years. Indeed, the majority of 

this growth was experienced in the Towns Environs with a 54% increase in the population of this region being 

recorded between 2002 and 2006. 

In relation to travel and transport trends, the 2006 Census data (still the latest data available) indicates a 

decrease in walking and cycling from 2002 to 2006 as outlines in figures 3.1 and 3.2 below. This is despite 

47% of Cavan residents living within 5km of their places of work or study. 

Figure 3.1: 2002 Modal Split for Cavan Town Figure 3.2: 2006 Modal Split for Cavan Town 

As there is no train or light rail services based in Cavan Town this cannot be targeted as a means of affecting 

a modal shift from car based travel without significant capital investment and political support being sourced. 

There are no staged bus services within Cavan Town and the only services which operate in the town are 

inter-regional Bus Éireann services which connect Cavan Town with major towns and cities such as Dublin, 

Galway and Belfast. Some of these services do connect via neighbouring counties such as Monaghan and 

Longford. 

For this reason, and the fact that 47% of Cavan residents travel less than 5km to work, there is significant 

scope to attract commuters to walking and particularly cycling. From previous transportation studies and traffic 

counts which have been carried out in the past, school traffic has been specifically identified as a major 

contributor to traffic congestion in the town. 

The development of safe and accessible facilities for cyclists and pedestrians alike will be essential to affect 

any sort of modal shift towards sustainable means in the area. It is also essential that these routes are 

established along existing pedestrian and cyclist desire lines and will connect residential areas with areas of 

employment, industry, recreation etc. A number of routes have been identified as being of strategic 

importance in the area and these are outlined in the following sections.


4 Existing Walking and Cycling Network 

As demonstrated in the previous section, walking and cycling currently occupy a very low modal share for 

travel to work and school within the town at 15% and 1% respectively. This is despite the fact that 47% of 

journeys to work and school are less than 5km in length, a distance which could be covered by foot in under 

an hour and in less than thirty minutes by a cyclist depending on the terrain. 

Like all urban centres, Cavan has a comprehensive network of footpaths in and around the town centre, 

however, it is when you leave the town centre and approach the outer extents of the town, particularly along 

the regional approach roads, that accessibility and permeability become worse with footpaths being provided 

in short, discontinuous sections. 

Progress has been made in this regard in recent years as more and 

more footpaths have been established on the connector routes 

feeding into the town, some of these routes can be seen in Figure 4.2 

below. There are also two designated Slí na Sláinte routes which 

have been established in the northern part of the town which are 1km 

and 2km respectively in length and are directly targeted at recreational 

walkers in the area. The first on-road cycle lanes in the town have 

been established in the past year along the Dublin Road linking both 

inbound and outbound cyclists with the R935 and N3 approach to the 

town. 

Cavan County council have been very proactive in recent years in providing both, new walking and cycling 

infrastructure and renewing existing infrastructure when funding has become available. 

The Cavan Town Eastern Access Road is currently under construction which will link the existing Dublin Road 

with the local road network just east of the town centre and will remove a significant proportion of the existing 

traffic off the town’s streets. This road will also have walking and cycling facilities incorporated from the outset 

and will mean no retrofitting of the route will be required in future. Cavan County Council are committed to 

continuing this approach in future where all road users will be incorporated on all new road construction so as 

to avoid the inconvenience and cost of retrofitting facilities. 

Figure 4.1: Location of Bicycle Stands in Cavan Town 

As part of a previous smarter travel funding scheme 

from which Cavan benefitted in 2011, six bicycle 

shelters were established within the Town, the locations 

of which can be seen in the adjacent Figure 4.1. These 

locations are, from top to bottom of Figure 4.1: 

1. Con Smith Park and Playground; 

2. Cavan Sports and Leisure Complex; 

3. Courthouse / Cavan County Council; 

4. Market Square – Town Centre; 

5. Tullacmongan Rosource Centre, Football Pitches 

and Playground; and 

6. Green Lough Park 

A map of the infrastructural improvements carried out in 

recent years as outlined below in the below Figure 4.2:

5 Vision Statement 


The overarching vision for this strategy is to ensure that walking and cycling become the first preference for 

short commuter and leisure trips with Cavan town. 

To achieve this vision, six objectives are proposed, as follows: 

1. Increase commuting on foot and by bike among children and adults; 

2. Increase road safety for pedestrians and cyclists; 

3. Increase awareness of the health benefits of walking and cycling; 

4. Increase waling and cycling related tourism in Cavan Town and County; 

5. Reduce car dependency for trips to work and education; and 

6. Reduce traffic volumes and speeds where pedestrian and cyclist volumes are high. 

To measure our effectiveness in working towards these objectives, two targets have been proposed as follows: 

- Increase the mode share of cycling trips to work and education in Cavan Town by 30% by 2015; and 

- Increase the mode share of walking trips to work and education in Cavan by 40% by 2015. 

These targets will form the basis for a monitoring and evaluation strategy which is set out in Section 7.

6 Action Plan 


Cavan County Council and Cavan Town Council initiated a transportation study of all transport modes within 

the town in 2007 as part of the 2020 Integrated Framework Plan. This study analysed the current transport 

characteristics of the town as well as providing a number of recommendations for the long term transport 

vision for the town. It contained several notable recommendations including the improvement of pedestrian 

and cyclist accessibility to the town centre, the facilitation of public transport and the pedestrianisation of 

sections of the town centre. 

Some of the recommendations made in this report have been absorbed into the following Action Plan. It is 

anticipated that the proposed actions will have a significant impact on achieving targets outlined in the 

previous section. The proposed infrastructure and traffic management actions are as follows: 

- Construction of 26km of cycling lanes on existing access roads to the town (currently underway). A map of 

the proposed cycle network is outlined in Figure 6.1 below; 

Figure 6.1: Future Proposed Cavan Town Cycle Network


- Construction of 6km of off road cycling routes along disused railways and other routes for leisure cycling to 

encourage the public to take up cycling regularly. The upgraded infrastructure will be planned to integrate 

with future development in the area; 

- Complete the construction of the proposed Cavan Town Eastern Access Road with associated cycling, 

walking and bus facilities. This development will remove a large number of vehicles from the centre of the 

town and allow the pedestrianisation of parts of the town centre making the town centre more pedestrian 

friendly; 

- Provide bicycle parking facilities at the local authority complexes and other public areas, building on 

improvements made in 2011; 

- Design traffic calming and traffic management measures to reduce traffic speeds on streets where the 

developed width is restricted such as Farnham Street, College Street and Railway Road; and 

- Design of a purpose built Bike Park incorporating cycle track and facilities to encourage newcomers to 

cycling, especially children. It can also be used to provide child cycle training. 

In addition to infrastructure measures, delivery of the Walking and Cycling Strategy will be supported by the 

implementation of a range of ‘soft measures’ to encourage the take up of walking and cycling in schools and 

workplaces. Some of the actions in this regard include: 

- Commence a county wide promotional campaign on sustainable travel, its benefits, and how various sectors 

of the community can be involved; 

- Develop workplace travel plans for Cavan Local Authorities with the initial emphasis on car pooling; 

- Engage with the 5 largest employers and agencies to achieve measurable progress including workplace 

travel plans; and 

- Engage with all schools in the area (6 National and 4 Secondary schools) and parents on a training and 

education programme that can compliment and expand the Green School Programme with emphasis on the 

many benefits of walking and cycling to school.

7 Monitoring and Evaluation 


Monitoring and evaluation of the proposed routes will form an essential part of 

the strategy as the overall success of the implementation measures will be 

down to the level of patronage along the routes. Permanent bicycle counters 

will be installed on all the main routes in and out of the town and these will be 

regularly checked for accuracy and reliability. 

Pedestrian numbers will be ascertained by routine manual pedestrian counts 

which will be carried out in residential areas and also approaching the main 

employment centres and schools in the area. Counts in locations around 

schools and employment centres will be carried out during the am and pm 

peak periods. These counts will be compared to baseline pedestrian and 

cyclist counts which will be carried out prior to the establishment of dedicated 

pedestrian or cyclist facilities so as to gauge what level of a modal shift has 

been experienced.

Appendix Two

Cavan�County�Council ROADWORKS�COST 

Cavan Town Activer Travel Towns Cycle Route NRA Rates databased May 2009 

Reserve 

ROAD CROSS SECTION C'way Cycle Track Footpaths Paved Width Verges Median Width Notes 

Ballyhaise Road - Ballinagh Road (R212 - R935) 7.5 1.5 0.9 12.3 0.0 3.0 15.3 

Length (m) 4920 

Section Item Unit Quantity Rate / unit Amount 

2 Site Clearance Ha 0.0 1,000.00 - 

Demolition of structures item 1,000.00 

Take up and set aside for reuse item 30.00 

3 & 4 Fences 

Pedestrian guard rails m 0 290.00 

Section Total - 

5 Services and drainage 

Service ducts x 6 no. 

Drains, Sewers and service Ducts

Cavan�Town�Northern�Cycle�Route�Project�Schedule�of�Works 

Task Timeline 

Funding�made�available�from�DTT&S July�2012��September�2012 

Commissioning�of�consultancy�services�for�detailed� 

rotue�design 

July�2012��September�2012 

Tender�for�Construction�Services September�2012��October�2012 

Commencement�of�Construction�Stage� October�2012��November�2012 

Construction�Stage�1:�R212�L1532�jtn�to�R212�/�R188� 

October�2012��December�2012 

junction 

Construction�Stage�2:�R188�junction�to�Farnham�St� 

roundabout 

December�2012��February�2013 

Construction�Stage�3:�Farnham�St�roundabout�to� 

Dublin�Rd�/�R935�junction 

February�2013��April�2013 

Construction�Stage�4:�Dublin�Rd�/�R935�junction�to� 

Gortnakesh 

April�2013��June�2013 

Completion�of�construction�works�and�handover�to� 

Local�Authority 

July�2013��August�2013 

��Project�Milestone

Active Travel Towns - Smarter Travel

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