Dublin City Council's Active Travel Network

Dublin City Council’s Active Travel Network is a sustainable transportation initiative being delivered by Dublin City Council and funded by the National Transport Authority.

The National Transport Authority developed the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, which sets out how transport will be developed across Dublin, Meath, Wicklow and Kildare over that period. It proposes several Active Travel objectives to encourage more walking and cycling, including investment in infrastructure.

The Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan

The Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan was adopted in January 2023 as part of the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy. It proposes to expand the urban cycle network to over 1,485km in length, connecting cycling infrastructure in the counties of Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.

The routes making up Dublin City Council’s Active Travel Network were developed through both the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy and the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan. They were developed and consulted on in 2012 and 2013, with further refinements in 2022 by the National Transport Authority.

The Active Travel Programme Office

Beginning in 2022, the Government allocated circa €50 million per year to Dublin City Council to support the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy. Dublin City Council responded to this by setting up the Active Travel Programme Office in 2022. The objectives of the office are:

• To deliver a safer, inclusive and sustainable walk-wheel-cycle network by rolling out a connected Active Travel Network throughout the city.
• To create a city network that improves access and connectivity for people of all ages and abilities. Upon completion, 95% of people in the city will be within 400 metres of the Active Travel Network.
• To reduce transport related carbon emissions by encouraging and supporting sustainable modes of transport.

The Active Travel Network

Funded by the National Transport Authority, Dublin city's Active Travel Network will consist of 314km of safe cyclist and pedestrian travel routes when it is fully implemented.

This 314km consists of 10km of pre-existing infrastructure. During the lifetime of the programme, Dublin City Council will deliver 214km of the Active Travel Network. The remaining 90km of the network will be delivered by the BusConnects programme. The programme is over 10% complete with 34.2km delivered thus far (February 2025).

The Active Travel Network aims to connect communities in Dublin with secure, inclusive pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, which encourages more people to walk, wheel and cycle.

Our vision is to create an Active Travel Network which 95% of people in the city will be within 400 metres of. Once they reach the network, they will have a safer and more convenient way to walk, wheel or cycle to their desired destination.

By creating this Active Travel Network, we aim to improve connectivity and reduce transport-related carbon emissions. It will also enhance quality of life for the people of Dublin.

How We Plan to Achieve This

The Active Travel Network will be achieved by:

•    Reallocating existing road space.
•    Incorporating segregated cycle lanes at suitable locations. 
•    Widening and decluttering footpaths.
•    Considering the needs of all users including disabled people.
•    Promoting biodiversity through tree planting and landscaping.
•    Facilitating social interaction by enhancing communal spaces.

These changes are being rolled out through a series of projects taking place around the city. To learn about the projects currently being planned or implemented, visit our Active Travel Improvement Works page.