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Green Party rep says Waterford can become Ireland's cycling capital

Green Party rep says Waterford can become Ireland's cycling capital

Marc O'Cathasaigh was part of an Irish delegation to the Dutch City of Utrecht last year, where there has been significant investment into cycling infrastructure.

Marc, who is also a primary school teacher in Tramore, says it was an inspirational trip.

"The Dutch have estimated that the savings they make in their health service pays for the cycle infrastructure," he says, "people are more mobile, people are out getting their aerobic exercise."

The Waterford Greenway is the perfect launchpad for a new bike culture in Waterford, according to Marc.

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"I said (to our guide) that Waterford is no Utrecht, and he said that 30 years ago neither was Utrecht. We have a fantastic starting point in the Greenway, and we now have to build from there."

Marc says there would be huge environmental benefits if investment into cycling infrastructure was to take place, and that as a primary school teacher, he would also like to see steps made to tackling childhood obesity.

"Parents rightly fell that they can't leave their child cycle to the GAA, or cycle to school, because you don't feel that they're safe."

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