Streets4All is a new collective of people who have come together to create one voice in the campaign to make the streets, cities and places in Northern Ireland better for walking, wheeling, cycling and living.
The group has a wealth of expertise but, most importantly, a strong desire to create greener, healthier and more active ways of living and travelling. Its aim is:
to campaign for changes in the way we live in Northern Ireland. For too long now our streets and cities have been overrun and dominated by cars and private vehicles. We want to claim back these spaces to allow people to move freely in a positive manner.
On Thursday 23rd of September at 8pm, Streets4All will host a webinar facilitated by Cyclist.ie to showcase what is going on in the UK and Ireland by other campaigners, what has been achieved in terms of active travel and liveability, and how something similar can happen in Northern Ireland.
Speakers will include Agustina Martire, Giulia Vallone, Adam Tranter and Damien Ó Tuama. You can read brief bios for them below.
You can register in advance for this free webinar via this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Do please spread the word on this event, especially to friends and colleagues in Northern Ireland. We look forward to meeting you all online then.
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Bios of Speakers
Agustina Martire Agustina is senior lecturer in architecture at Queen’s University Belfast. She teaches urban history and theory and architectural design. She leads the StreetSpace project, an international and interdisciplinary project that studies everyday streets, shedding light on the way streets are used, experienced and represented. She works with a series of NGOs and government departments, advocating for equitable and just mobility and housing in Belfast.
Giulia Vallone Giulia is an award winning architect and urban designer with Cork County Council. Her focus is excellence in design of public works and townscape through a people centred design approach generating civic stewardship and placemaking. She is a passionate believer in the delivery of quality outcomes from collaborative and multi-disciplinary design process applied to all public investments in the urban environment, and not just those traditionally associated with architectural design. Her work with Cork County Council has won several design awards, in particular the “Clonakilty 400” Masterplan [phase I-II] winner of The RIAI Public Choice Award in 2014, The Academy of Urbanism Award, The Irish Design Award and RIAI Best Place in Ireland in 2017 and the latter triennial European Gubbio Prize in 2018.
Adam Tranter Adam is the CEO of communications agency Fusion Media, specialising in marketing communications around cycling and active travel. He also co-hosts the Streets Ahead podcast on active travel and liveable streets. Adam volunteers as the Bicycle Mayor for Coventry, which helps coordinate between existing cyclists, the community, government, and non-profits to make cycling better in Coventry. He was the first Bicycle Mayor in a UK city – the programme founded in Amsterdam where it is supported by the city government.
Damien Ó Tuama Damien is the National Cycling Coordinator with Cyclist.ie and An Taisce. His main focus is in supporting Cyclist’s 25+ member groups in collaborating effectively and advancing Cyclist.ie’s new strategy. He has worked in the mobilities space for over 20 years and completed his doctoral research exploring transitions in mobility systems in 2015 (Trinity College Dublin). He was a board member of the European Cyclists’ Federation from 2016 to 2021, and is currently on the board of Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
Bike Week first took place in Ireland in June 2009 following the publication earlier that year of the National Cycle Policy Framework. The NCPF included a specific objective (#10.2, page 33) that an annual National Bike Week would be organised so as to improve the image of cycling and promote cycling using “soft interventions”.
Twelve years on and as we edge out of a difficult last 18 months, Bike Week 2021 is ready to go. It is being launched this Sunday 12th of September, and Cyclist.ie’s groups are at the heart of organising the best events happening countrywide. A credit to all of our member groups and active volunteers!
You can check out all of the events happening on a county-by-county basis on the official Bike Week website here (see the bottom of that page), but in this article here we highlight a selection of some really fabulous events being organised by our own member groups of Cyclist.ie.
Navan
Navan Bike Fest is a week-long series of events planned for National Bike Week, kicking off with a half-day event on Sunday 12 September. This family-friendly event will be held at Coláiste na Mí and is a celebration of all things cycling, with a variety of cycling fun and games, stands and stalls, as well as the return of our ever-popular Family Cycle. Lots more at http://navancycling.ie/navan-bike-fest-2021/
Leitrim
Leitrim Cycling Festival is taking place in the beautiful little village of Kiltyclogher for a weekend of music, dancing, art, history, mud painting, good food and cycling to celebrate the wonder of bikes, communities and this stunning county. It runs from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th of September, and has a wonderfully action-packed programme of events. Details at https://leitrimcyclingfestival.com/leitrim-cycling-festival-programme-2021-2/
Dublin
Dublin Cycling Campaign is running and supporting several terrific events during Bike Week. Campaign members will be taking part in the ‘Pedalpalooza’ family friendly festival in Fairview Park from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday 12th Sept, and the Campaign is teaming up with with wonderful crew from Bloomin’ Crumlin to cycle over to the events in Fairview (poster below).
Then on Monday, 13 Sept at 8pm, Dublin Cycling Campaign is hosting a special meeting over Zoom at which there will be a range of people presenting who get around Dublin by bike or trike. Speakers will have three minutes each to share their cycling stories, so it promises to be a lively and interesting evening. The meeting will be chaired by meteorologist Joanna Donnelly and is organised by Siobhán McNamara. Details at https://www.dublincycling.com/cycling/virtual-public-meeting-why-we-cycle-dublin-stories
Galway
The Galway Urban Greenway Alliance, which is campaigning for segregated walking and cycling routes from the city out to Barna and Moycullen, is running what sounds like a lovely Community Cycle event on Sunday 12th September at 11am. Details available at https://www.facebook.com/galwayurbangreenway/ and in the poster here.
Gort
On Saturday 18th of September, Gort Cycle Trails are organising a cycle from the Gort Railway Station to Coole Park via Glenbrack – AKA as the Gort Mini-Greenway. This sounds like a lovely event – not least because, once participants arrive at Coole Park, they will be treated to a coffee/Tea/Hot chocolate of choice and a yummie cake by Gort Tea Rooms in the Walled Garden. Details at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cycle-gorts-mini-greenway-with-gort-cycle-trails-tickets-169783169029 and in the poster below.
Kilkenny
There are wonderful events happening in Kilkenny such as free week-long trials of cargo bikes and some bike maintenance workshops in Stoneyford and Kilmacow. Details on the Kilkenny Cycling & Walking Campaign Facebook page here and in the poster below.
Kerry
The information below was received by Anluan Dunne from Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership. As of 9th Sept, these were not published.
The events we have planned for Bike Week 2021 are:
Guided Group Cycles for Women (x2) – Sunday 12th of September (Killorglin and Tralee) – Led by local Cycling Ireland Women in Sport ambassadors Fiola Foley (Killorglin) and Clare Neenan (Tralee).
Over 55’s Small Group Cycles (x4) – Wednesday 15th of September (Listowel).
Bike Clinic Workshops (x5) – Cahersiveen: Eamonn Casey, Ring Hotel Cahersiveen, Monday Sept – 7pm to 8.30pm – Listowel: Kieran Corcoran, Listowel Arms Hotel, Tuesday 14th Sept- 7pm to 8.30pm – Tralee: Anthony O’Halloran, Meadowlands Hotel Tralee, Wednesday 15th- 7pm to 8.30pm – Killorglin: Kieran Corcoran, Venue CYMS Community Centre , Thursday 16th –7pm to 8.30 pm – Killarney : Matt from O’Sullivan Cycles, Venue and date to be confirmed
Bike Week Photo Competition ‘Where in Kerry will your Bike Take You?’ – 12th to 18th of September
Tandem Bike Rides for people who are blind or visually impaired (TBC) **Very low participation numbers and availability of experienced/suitable tandem pilots may impact on this going ahead during Bike Weel.
Cycle on Wednesdays (COW) – Active Travel Dept (TBC) To collaborate with colleagues from An Taisce/Green Schools to encourage and support the school community to cycle to school, as part of the Green Schools/Safe Routes to School programme.
We have also earmarked some of this funding for the purchase of some safe cycling equipment which will be used in future cycling programmes and initiatives
Skibbereen
Cycle Sense are kicking off Bike Week with a Mystery Cycle Buffet and ending with a Family Bike Day including Art and Bike Repairs plus various cycling taster sessions in between.
Come down to the Bike Circus or visit us via Facebook Live to learn about all things derailleurs.
Tues 14th – 11:30am
Touring and E-Bikes webinar – tune in on Facebook Live or pop down to the Bike Circus
Tues 14th – 3pm
Wellbeing Cycle – a leisurely 10-15km cycle, all welcome meet at the Bike Circus
Thurs 16th – 11am
Accessibility Cycling workshop and webinar with Jack. See some great cycling options for people with mobility issues, via Facebook or pop down to the yard
Fri 17th – 3pm
Family Day – Come down to Croppy park with your small ones and have some fun.
Fri 17th – 5pm
A Circus at the Bike Circus! Come down to our local community bike workshop yard for a one off performance of juggling, tricks and the circus craic! (Culture Night Event)
Sat 18th – 3pm
‘Kidical Mass’ Cycle – a celebratory lap of the town, all welcome – especially kids! Meet at the Bike Circus
Sat 18th – 3:30-5pm
In Appreciation of our Apprentices – Pop down to the Bike Circus to learn about our free apprenticeship program and meet and mingle with some graduates as well as reconnect with other Bike Circus Members. Drinks & nibbles provided. We will also be launching our new community notice board, for carpooling, bike swapping and gear sharing!
Sligo
Sligo Cycling Campaign have planned their Community Cycle to coincide with Culture Night, taking place on Friday 17th September. The cycle will include a stop-off at Cranmore Community Garden and conclude with refreshments and sea-shanties at the Riverside Hotel.
