NTA survey shows more than half of adult residents in Waterford Metropolitan Area want to walk or wheel more and a third want to cycle more.
Walking, wheeling and cycling take up to 15,000 cars off Waterford roads every day, according to latest Walking and Cycling Index.
45% of adults in Waterford walk or wheel at least five times a week, 12% cycle at least once a week.
The National Transport Authority has today published the findings of the latest survey of walking, wheeling and cycling in the Waterford Metropolitan Area, which reveals that 51% of adult residents want to walk or wheel (meaning the use of a wheelchair or mobility scooter) more and 32% want to cycle more. The survey shows that 45% of adults in Waterford are walking and wheeling at least five days a week and 12% cycle at least once a week.
The Walking and Cycling Index provides the largest assessment of walking, wheeling, and cycling in Ireland and the UK. It is delivered in collaboration with Waterford City and County Council and Kilkenny County Council, the National Transport Authority and the sustainable transport charity, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. Alongside the Waterford Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index, the Cork, Limerick Shannon, Galway, and Dublin Metropolitan Areas are also publishing Index reports today.
The Waterford Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index is based on an independent demographically representative survey of more than 1,100 residents from across Waterford Metropolitan Area aged 16 and above, not just those who walk, wheel or cycle. The Metropolitan Area is centred on the City of Waterford and its suburbs including Passage East, Slieverue, and Ferrybank in Kilkenny.
It reveals that 78% of residents are in favour of additional investment in walking and wheeling, up from 68% in 2023, while 74% of residents are in favour of additional investment in cycling, up from 63% in 2023. The survey also found that every day, people who walk, wheel or cycle for non-leisure trips when they could have used a car take up to 15,000 cars of the road in the Waterford Metropolitan Area.
The report found that walking, wheeling and cycling creates an annual economic benefit for individuals and the Waterford Metropolitan Area of €67 million. This includes €1.62 of a net economic benefit for each km cycled instead of driven and €1.14 benefit of each km walked instead of driven. These costs were determined through an analysis of travel time, vehicle operating costs, health benefits, air quality and taxation.
Every day up to 15,000 return walking, wheeling and cycling trips are made daily in the Waterford Metropolitan Area by people that could have used a car. If these cars were all in a traffic jam it would tail back 70 kilometres.
The report also found that walking, wheeling and cycling save 2,700 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in Waterford each year, which is equivalent to about 34,000 flights from Dublin Airport to London Heathrow Airport.
The benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling to the Waterford Metropolitan Area are outlined in the report, with the physical activity benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling preventing 149 long-term health conditions annually, valued at approx. €1.8 million equivalent to the cost of over 31,000 GP appointments.
The Index showed that residents’ travel choices and their perceptions of walking, wheeling, and cycling vary between different groups. It found that 52% of residents with a disability walk or wheel at least five days a week in Waterford, compared to 45% of residents without a disability. 9% of residents with a disability cycle at least once a week compared to 12% without. It also found that while 46% of women and 44% of men walk or wheel at least five days a week, there is a gender gap when it comes to cycling with 16% of men cycling at least once a week, compared with 8% of women.
When asked what would help them walk or wheel more, Waterford Metropolitan Area residents point to wider pavements, better footpath accessibility including dropped kerbs at crossing points, and nicer places along streets to stop and rest, fewer cars parked on footpaths, and more frequent crossing points with reduced wait times. The report found in the Waterford Metropolitan area that 92% of roads meeting at traffic‑light junctions have a dedicated pedestrian crossing.
When asked what would help them cycle more, the majority of adult residents want infrastructural improvements such as traffic-free paths through parks or greenways, and cycle tracks along roads physically separated from traffic and pedestrians.
There continues to be strong support for the development of more protected cycle infrastructure within the Waterford Metropolitan Area, with 86% of residents supporting building cycle tracks physically separated from traffic and pedestrians, even where that means less room for other traffic, up from 76% in 2023.
Waterford residents also recognise the importance of liveable neighbourhoods. 87% of residents support creating ‘low traffic’ neighbourhoods – where groups of streets, bordered by main roads, have ‘through’ motor vehicle traffic greatly reduced. 90% support reducing speed limits, improving crossing points and introducing protected cycle paths in school neighbourhoods. 58% support closing residential streets outside schools to cars during drop-off and pick-up times.
Speaking on the Walking and Cycling Index, Cllr Seamus Ryan, Mayor Waterford City Council said:
“As Mayor, I am pleased to welcome the second Waterford Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index. This report provides clear insight into how our residents travel and how strongly they value walking, wheeling and cycling.
With continued NTA investment, strong community engagement, and committed leadership from all stakeholders, we can transform the way we travel, creating a greener, healthier and more liveable city. We will continue to champion a vibrant, sustainable future for all who live, work, visit and invest here.”
Cllr. Mary Hilda Kavanagh, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council said:
“As Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, I am delighted to welcome the second Waterford Metropolitan Walking and Cycling Index. As our cities and towns continue to grow, active travel and public transport are essential to keep our communities moving freely, in an affordable and sustainable way.
Ongoing investment is essential to create safe, attractive and accessible environments that will restore independent travel for all and enable people to remain active and connected. This report sets out the evidence needed to ensure that walking and cycling become realistic, welcoming choices for everyone.”
Anne Shaw, CEO of NTA said: “This latest edition of the Waterford Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index provides valuable insights into how people travel and what is needed to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer, easier and more attractive. Since the last Index in 2023, we have worked closely with Waterford City and County Council and Kilkenny County Council to invest in schemes that reflect our shared commitment to creating safe, connected streets.
The feedback in the report is clear: people in Waterford want to walk, wheel and cycle more. We are responding with infrastructure that supports this ambition and helps create a healthier, safer and more liveable Waterford Metropolitan Area.”
The Waterford Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index can be accessed at Waterford Metropolitan Region Walking and Cycling Index 2025
