Active Travel and the Common Good: Identifying the Common Good in Public Consultation Reports for Irish Local Authority Active Travel Projects

Abstract This paper examines conceptions of the common good in reports prepared in 2022 by Irish Local Authorities for public consultation on proposed active travel schemes. The proposed active travel schemes form a key component of Irish commitment to reducing transport emissions and represent a public good, which can be used simultaneously by many. The reports are intended to inform the public and local authority elected members about the proposed schemes before elected members vote whether to proceed with the scheme. Approval by elected members of Local Authority projects, including active travel schemes, sits within the Irish land use planning system, which provides for proper planning and sustainable development in the interests of the common good. This study investigates understandings of the common good found within the reports and assesses the degree to which active travel schemes are appreciated as common and public goods that contribute to transformative change in the transport sector. The paper identifies a lack of guidance on shaping reports for public consultation and calls for the development of compelling narratives of how active travel schemes serve the common good and expedite the transport changes envisioned in the Republic of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.