The Irish Cycling Campaign was delighted to be invited to the excellent National Sustainable Mobility Forum that was held in Portlaoise on 23 May 2024. Even better, our Chairperson Neasa Bheilbigh was invited to address the audience of 200+ delegates as part of the panel on “Community Action on Sustainable Mobility”.
The National Sustainable Mobility Forum is an annual event which aims to engage with stakeholders on progress related to the Sustainable Mobility Policy in support of walking, cycling, public transport, and shared mobility in Ireland. Originally established in 2023 under the national Sustainable Mobility Policy and related Action Plan (SMP), the first Forum was held in Athlone around a year ago (and we reported on it here) .
The event in Portlaoise was also well attended with senior figures there from government departments, agencies and local authorities, plus representatives from community and user groups. Having such a large room full of academics, officials, advocates and community reps – all brimming with expertise gathered over many years and all strongly supporting the message that active travel is hugely valuable to our society – was a great achievement for the Department.
Neasa, speaking on behalf of the Irish Cycling Campaign but also the Galway Cycle Bus – Bus Rothaíochta na Gaillimhe, spoke about the enormous physical, educational and wider social benefits of enabling children to cycle to school with their pals. It’s very much an inclusive and sociable activity, and the positive differences to the alertness and the enthusiasm of pupils in the classrooms after they have cycled in is very obvious to the teaching staff. She urged all of the decision-makers in the room and the wider stakeholders to put a special emphasis on creating the conditions for all school children to be able to walk and cycle to their local schools. The greater the extent and quality of the cycle-networks provided, the bigger the positive impact it will have on the health of students and, more broadly, on educational outcomes.
Minister Eamon Ryan pointing out the necessity for future governments to keep the 10% allocation of the national transport budget to cycling (meaning then 20% for walking and cycling), and the 2:1 ratio of public transport to roads spend;
Dr. Robbie Egan, behaviour change and attitudes researcher in Trinity College Dublin, when outlining his overview of the SMP, describing how negotiations within families affect transport mode choice – a good reminder that choice of mode of transport isn’t just about individuals’ journeys;
Niamh Murphy of I-PARC, the Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration, talking about running a large-scale study of the transport habits of 4th and 5th class students, and then 4th and 5th year students, pre- and post-active travel funding. She mentioned that there was a positive change in transport habits towards active travel after the funding, but I’d be very interested to see further results;
Finally, there was a great phrase from Eugene Conlon of the sustainable energy community (organised by SEAI). He spoke about bringing stakeholders along the journey to supporting active travel – some are reluctant, it has to be acknowledged – saying what’s needed is to ‘inform and inspire’, which to me is a very powerful summary of Irish Cycling Campaign’s advocacy task.
For Damien Ó Tuama, our National Cycling Coordinator, the prominence given to the youth and community representatives – those most likely to be impacted by the changes envisaged – was very welcome. The presentations given by the younger attendees, framed as ‘Dystopian’ and ‘Utopian Newsflashes of the Future’, were particularly striking. Without the rapid decarbonisation of transport – and other sectors – over the next few years, that generation will have polycrises to deal with, not just one or two.
Elaine Baker from the Cloughjordan Cycling Group (and wearing other hats as well) spoke from the floor to highlight the lack of independence ‘enjoyed’ by adolescents in rural Ireland, where they are so dependent on seeking lifts from adults for so many of their everyday journeys. But where does that leave families who do not own a car or want to own one? In the absence of regular public transport services in some / many parts of rural Ireland – while acknowledging that it is now improving in some areas – shared cars provide part of the solution. However, we really need extensive and safe cycle networks linking homes to villages and towns and the various places that adolescents want to travel to independently.
It’s very hard to summarise such a rich day’s discussions covering so many aspects of the mobility jigsaw, but overall one is beginning to sense the urgency that is needed in transitioning over to public transport and active travel solutions – and in reducing the dominance of private cars in our public spaces and private lives.
The conversations will continue and Irish Cycling Campaign will be at the table.
Earlier today (Fri 07 June 2024), Irish Cycling Campaign made a submission in response to the public consultation on the new Primary Wellbeing Curriculum. We have posted a copy of it below.
We note here that the consultation is open until 5pm on June 18th. This new curriculum will encompass both Physical Education and Social, Personal and Health Education and is the first revision of the curriculum since 1999. This curriculum will most likely be in effect for the next few decades in our primary school system, so it’s essential that we have a stronger focus on cycling within it. Do please take 10 mins over the coming days to send in your own request that utility cycling and cycling as transport be given a prominent role within the final draft.
Written submissions can be sent to [email protected] from now until 5pm on June 18th. More on the background to the consultation can be read via this link.
And we wish to sincerely thank our Irish Cycling Campaign volunteers for their excellent work on the submission that you can read just below.
Dear Sir / Madam, Irish Cycling Campaign (formerly Cyclist.ie, the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network), is the national organisation of cycling advocacy groups, greenway groups and bike festivals on the island of Ireland. We are the Irish member of the European Cyclists’ Federation. Our vision is for an Ireland with a cycle friendly culture, where everyone has a real choice to cycle and is encouraged to experience the joy, convenience, health and environmental benefits of cycling.
We are very thankful for the opportunity to submit our observations of the new draft Wellbeing Curriculum Specification and fully support its vision to holistically empower children with skills across subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Physical Education (PE) to live healthier, more connected and happier lives.
Our submission has been drafted by a number of primary teachers supported by experts in paediatric health with direct experience of delivering support to children of all mobilities.
Introduction:
The Irish Cycling Campaign believes that cycling should be an integral component of the physical education curriculum, aimed at fostering holistic development and promoting well-being among primary school students. The inclusion of cycling aligns with the overarching aims of the curriculum, as outlined below:
1. Physical Well-being: Cycling encourages regular physical activity, contributing to the development of cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and overall physical health. Through cycling, students enhance their motor skills, coordination, and balance, laying the foundation for a healthy and active lifestyle.
2. Social Well-being: Cycling offers opportunities for social interaction and collaboration, promoting teamwork, communication, and peer support. Group cycling activities foster a sense of community and belonging, while also cultivating empathy and respect for others.
3. Emotional Well-being: Engaging in cycling activities can have positive effects on mental health and emotional well-being. Riding a bike provides a sense of freedom, independence, and achievement, boosting self-esteem and confidence. Moreover, outdoor cycling experiences promote connection with nature and community, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
4. Cognitive Well-being: Cycling stimulates cognitive development through problem-solving, decision-making, and spatial awareness. Navigating different terrains and traffic conditions requires critical thinking and concentration, enhancing students’ cognitive skills and resilience.
5. Climate Responsibilities: Children cycling not only benefit from the activity themselves but also contribute positively to mitigating climate change. By adopting cycling as a mode of transport, students reduce their carbon footprint, thereby fostering a sense of environmental stewardship from a young age. Emphasising the climate responsibilities associated with cycling empowers students to recognize their role in addressing global environmental challenges and encourages them to make sustainable choices in their daily lives.
Incorporating cycling into the primary school curriculum reflects a commitment to holistic education, encompassing physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and environmental dimensions of well-being. By providing students with opportunities to cycle safely and confidently, the curriculum aims to empower them to lead healthy, active, and sustainable lives while fostering a sense of responsibility towards the planet.
A further point to note here is that Irish transport policy, investment plans and the mobility culture are all having to change quickly now in response to the need to rapidly decarbonise the transport sector. Therefore it important to equip school children with the skills to be able to use the transport infrastructure networks of the future – i.e. those ‘active travel’ routes which are being developed extensively countrywide as part of the National Cycle Network Plan, CycleConnects plans, BusConnects bus and cycle network plans and the metropolitan cycle network plans such as the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan. Training in being a competent bicycle user at a young age will help pupils to confidently navigate the multi-modal transport systems which will become increasingly common in Ireland (and indeed abroad) over the coming years. Becoming a competent cyclist is a skill for life in a rapidly changing world.
Requested Amendment:
The Irish Cycling Campaign is recommending the following changes to the Table 9: Description of Physical Education activity areas contained within Section 6D: PE Activity Areas on pages 43 and 44 of the Draft Primary Wellbeing Specification to strengthen the place of cycling as both an enjoyable activity and a key travel mode for children in our primary school system.
From the section labelled “Adventure” we recommend the removal of “Wheel based activities are also an important element of adventure activities incorporating a focus on the lifelong activity of cycling, alongside other wheel-based activities such as scooter and scooter board.”
With this deletion we would recommend the inclusion of a new separate section titled “Cycling, Wheeling and Walking” to replace this reference to cycling.
Within this “Cycling, Wheeling and Walking” section we would suggest the following as the body of text to better support cycling within the curriculum:
Cycling empowers independence and connection in children allowing them the freedom and safety to travel to and from school in a method that both enables activity and climate responsibility. Direct teaching of cycling skills will enable them to travel in a safe and enjoyable fashion while learning to be considerate road users.
Social cycling to school instils within children a habit of regular, daily activity within their lives. It creates a connection to their peers and their wider community further fostering active citizenship and acts as a base for a healthy and active lifestyle.
Cycling, walking and wheeling also provide opportunities for children to be active outside directly taught PE classes and organised sports. Taken together these movement types instil a lifelong love of movement that includes children of all abilities.
Additional Observations:
Teacher Training and Upskilling
Existing cycle training programs in schools tend to be outsourced to external cycle training providers. This poses challenges for many schools as they may not be in a position to provide funding for these training providers or book training providers due to timetabling issues or geographical location.
We recommend that the Wellbeing curriculum encourages and expects class teachers to directly engage with teaching and learning related to cycling. We appreciate that there will be training needs in this area but feel that this may be achieved through the provision of Continuous Professional Development and EPV training courses and events.
These training courses should intend to enable class teachers to ensure that the children in their class are able to:
Develop the foundational skills in order to cycle safely between two points.
Carry out basic checks and tasks on a bike (move saddle height, check brakes, pump tyres).
Understand the rules of the road.
Develop an interest and curiosity in cycling.
(b) Health benefits
HSE guidelines on physical activity in children say that children over 5 should have at least 1 hour of energetic play a day – ‘where they sweat and breath faster than normal’. Staying fit is imperative for a child’s growth and development to have a healthy body, develop self confidence and improve learning and attention (HSE, 2022). We argue this activity could be done on route to and from school where possible.
Additionally, being overly car-dependent poses both direct and indirect risks to children. An Irish child’s outdoor environment is made physically more dangerous with increasing number and size of vehicles and their associated pollution. The indirect effects to health in taking sedentary transport to school is the opportunity cost of not walking, cycling or scooting to school. In effect, this is about more than teaching a child to cycle a bike; rather, it is about using it it as a transport tool and supporting this positive transition can improve baseline paediatric health and create lifelong healthy habits. According to the Department of Children in 2018, approximately 50% of children aged 10–17 reported being physically active for at least 60 minutes per day on more than four days per week, early intervention at primary school level can help develop these healthy habits.
Walking or cycling to where you are going will be good for a child and allow them to engineer physical activity into their daily lives by transport. An easy win. According to the Road Safety Authority figures show that 2 of 3 child casualties on our roads were child pedestrians or cyclists. Between 2014 and 2022 there were 56 fatalities aged 0-15 years and 852 seriously injured road users, representing 4% of total fatalities and 8% of total serious injuries. Although we believe the responsibility of reducing road danger lies with the adult driving the car, road safety awareness starts by being a pedestrian or cyclist. Cycling is a core life skill, a building block to road safety to improve awareness, it should be part of the syllabus at primary level.
Cycling is inclusive, children with different physical and mental needs are capable of cycling a bike. This may not be the same for children during other activities.
(c) SEN Children: Focus on Cycling and Autism
Children with autism are very often some of the most creative and detail oriented children within the classroom. They are keen observers and are incredibly resilient, accepting and honest. In addition to the huge positives children with autism bring to school and family life, they also have a number of common challenges which may include:
• Difficulty with social interaction.
• Delayed or limited communication skills.
• Sensory processing difficulties.
• Restrictive patterns of behaviour or interests.
• Delays and difficulties with motor skills development.
• Stereotypical behaviours.
• Concentration difficulties.
Some of the motor skills problems that children with Autism experience include difficulties with balance, postural stability, joint flexibility and movement speed. The secondary consequence of motor skills difficulties include avoidance of group activities including team sports and therefore decreased opportunity for physical activity and social interaction. We would firmly maintain that our cities and schools must provide support and facilities to allow all children to avail of the right amount of physical activity for optimum health and wellbeing.
Exercise of all kinds increases opportunities for social interaction and improves social motivation and communication for all children but especially for children with autism. It promotes calmness and relaxation while also having clear improvements in physical health. Physical stimulation obtained through body rocking, arm flapping and spinning can decrease with regular daily exercise. As with all school children, physical exertion helps children with autism to complete classroom tasks with increased accuracy.
Motor Skills and FUNdamental Movement Skills
If we examine motor skills and fundamental movement skills we can very clearly focus on the benefits cycling in particular can bring to children with autism. With many of these children experiencing roadblocks in developing different aspects of their motor skills, the development of physical literacy is a key part of their schooling and life skills development. They may need more time and support to learn to cycle but once accomplished their sense of achievement is powerful. The therapeutic and emotional benefits gained are very worthwhile.
The Move Well, Move Often programme (PDST, 2017) has been rolled out in schools in recent years and has a far more skills and assessment focused take on physical literacy than previous physical education programmes. It has been adapted for use by many Special Education Needs (SEN) teachers in Irish primary schools over the past number of years for both individual and group teaching of fundamental movement skills. When looking at these skills it’s important to understand that while they may be given specific instruction during motor skills teaching with children with autism, all of these physical literacy skills are complementary and interconnected. While locomotion and manipulative skills may be easier to teach within a standard school PE hall setting, the stability skills benefit hugely from extra interventions such as cycling.
For many children with autism regulation of sensory inputs can be a particular challenge. They may be overloaded by noisy, busy environments. Proprioceptive (body awareness) and vestibular (balance) sensory senses can often be challenging areas too. This can lead to a more limited ability to explore their environment and, in turn, less opportunity to develop their sensory systems, resilience and relationships with peers. Children with motor difficulties require activities that challenge these systems to help them to improve and develop. They need activities that challenge balance, coordination and motor planning such as cycling to help address these sensory issues. Activities such as these have a hugely calming influence on the sensory systems of children with autism.
Social Skills Development
Social skills, difficulties with social interactions and making meaningful and lasting connections with peers is a key focus of a lot of school aged interventions. A huge aspect of the teaching of primary school aged children focuses on building and developing these skills. Children with autism have both discrete social skills teaching and social group teaching as part of their school-based interventions. Cycling to school with peers in a group or a cycle bus (a group of children cycling together in convoy to and from school under parental supervision) helps develop a sense of belonging and community with their peers that sits perfectly alongside this. The shared communal routines provide incredible benefits to their levels of social interaction, communication skills and most importantly their self-confidence.
The importance of cycling to both children’s feelings of belonging and inclusion within a group and their mental health cannot be overstated. This is especially important as children reach adolescence where interests and behaviours develop. A shared way of moving together such as cycling gives children a sense of belonging and a common interest. It also ensures that the exercise they need to help self-regulate is an enjoyable and communal experience. Having the outlet for their feelings is an especially important part of guiding children with autism through this particular phase of their lives and having a solid peer group such as a cycling group strengthens this resilience.
We know that physical activity rates decrease from childhood to adolescence. Older individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) living in community settings have been observed to live very sedentary lifestyles. If children with ASD do not develop participation skills in active leisure time activities, they will most likely become increasingly sedentary with age placing them at risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. We must therefore strive to encourage physical activity for these children in our schools and communities.
Support children with autism to learn to cycle and provide the infrastructure to keep them cycling, and they will gain lifelong benefits for their physical and emotional wellbeing. Of equal importance, they will have increased opportunities for meaningful daily social interactions.
Conclusion:
We wish to thank the NCCA and its staff for what is an excellent draft specification for the new Primary Wellbeing Curriculum. We hope that you find our observations helpful and that you will consider them for inclusion in the final draft of the curriculum. If we can be of any further help please do not hesitate to contact us at any stage.
Regards,
Neasa Ní Bheilbigh – Chairperson of the Irish Cycling Campaign, (Primary Teacher – Galway)
Dave Tobin – Vice-Chair of the Irish Cycling Campaign (Primary SET – Limerick)
Irish Cycling Campaign recently hosted a special online session about measuring active travel, engaging your communities and influencing policymakers.
Our special guest speaker was Community Manager Robert McIntosh from Telraam, who provided an overview of what their devices do and how you can get started.
Irish Cycling Campaign’s Dave Anderson spoke about the experiences of his local group, Navan Cycling Initiative, in using Telraam, the supports offered and potential funding options.
The online webinar was recorded and is now available here to watch:
Irish Cycling Campaign wishes to thank Telraam’s Robert McIntosh for sharing his expertise and advice at this ICC webinar.
For more info about Telraam, head to https://talks.telraam.net
In this article, we look back on 2023 through the frame of our 2021-26 Strategy (with our six strategic aims shown below) and consider how much progress we have made. In particular, we highlight where Irish Cycling Campaign / our Local Groups are making a real impact on the mobility culture of Ireland. Note, however, that this article only scrapes the surface of all of the incredible work conducted by our network of volunteers for which we are very grateful.
ICC’s overarching aims as per our current strategy, are:
Develop a vibrant and resilient all-island cycling advocacy community
Influence the national conversation on mobility and quality of life
Seek to ensure public policy embraces cycling
Advocate for more effective institutions and new legislation
Seek to ensure there is ample funding spent on cycling
Seek to secure high quality routes and infrastructure
We frame our 2023 highlighted achievements around these:
Community Underpinning effective advocacy work is having a resilient organisation, and we put significant work into this in 2023.
National Conversation Throughout 2023, Irish Cycling Campaign was the ‘go-to’ NGO for the media for insights on cycling policy. We also helped to shape the conversation on wider (public) transport topics, and on links between public health outcomes and transport investment types. A summary of our 2023 media contributions can be read here while our contributions in the media in 2024 to date can be read here. Without these contributions, media discourses would be dominated by less informed and more car-centric perspectives. Our contributions soften the ground for a greater public acceptance for active travel investments.
Public Policy Throughout 2023, we advocated to the Departments of: Transport; Environment, Climate & Communications; Health; and Finance for cycling as a climate-friendly, healthy, congestion-free transport mode.
Institutions and Legislation One of the most difficult domains ICC operates in is where we seek to change the culture of driving, and this brings us into close contact with the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority in particular.
Amongst the topics raised with An Garda Síochána were collision reporting, the portal for video evidence, and wider enforcement issues through our meetings with the A/Commissioner for Community & Roads Policing, Paula Hilman, and her team. We are now building on these conversations so as to put a greater emphasis on reducing road danger from driver behaviour, vehicle speeds, and ever increasing vehicle sizes.
Irish Cycling Campaign is delighted to see so many of our Local Groups organising events for Bike Week 2024 in every corner of the country. In this article, we list some of the main events that groups are running – while noting that it is not exhaustive!
We encourage everyone to support our events – and also to join Irish Cycling Campaign if you are not already a member https://cyclist.ie/join/ Thank you!
The Wheels of Athenry / Co.Galway
Athenry CycleFest 2024
Saturday, 11th May, 1 – 4pm
Athenry Town Park
Athenry CycleFest 2024 will be kicking off #BikeWeek in County Galway on Saturday the 11th of May from 1 – 4pm in the Town Park!
Wheel on down to Athenry CycleFest for a *FREE* and jam packed afternoon of Cycling, Community, and Craic in the Town Park.
The afternoon’s grand finale is the ATHENRY PEDAL PARADE at 3pm starting at the Town Park.
For a taster of what to expect check out our promo vid HERE.
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CLONAKILTY BICYCLE FESTIVAL, CO CORK
All info at www.clonakiltybicyclefestival.org
FRIDAY 17TH MAY 2024 7pmOpening night: Lap of the town, blessing of the bicycles & film night opening night at DeBarras Folk Club (upstairs)
SATURDAY 18TH MAY 2024 10am Chakra Dance Cycle – leave at 10am – cycle to Ring to loosen up those Chakra’s through dance – co hosted with Ciara Holland – free, please book, text 085 874 5891 or [email protected]
SATURDAY 18TH MAY 2024 3pm – ‘Kidical Mass’ Cycle meet at Emmet Square – Another addition of our most popular event for kids. Bring your bike to Emmet Square for an all ages lap around Clonakilty
SATURDAY 18TH MAY 2024 7pm – Sunset Bird Watch Cycle (10km) meet at Emmet Square – cycle from Clonakilty town to the Inchydoney estuary identifying local birds species. In collaboration with Bird Watch Ireland Free
SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2024 10.30am Stop, Look, Listen cycle – meet at Emmet Square – cycle a lap of the town to the biodiversity garden at Bennetts Field, and listen to 3 pieces of music on the theme of nature and biodiversity.
SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2024 3pm – River cycle in collaboration with Clochán Uisce (our local rivers group) – meet at Emmet Square to explore the biodiversity in our local rivers and check its health including kick sampling and water testing as part of the EU drinkable rivers program. Family friendly.
SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2024 5.30pm ‘Waste not, want not’ Curry Cycle! a 5 km cycle around Clonakilty to arrive at our secret location for a ‘Waste Not Want Not’ Curry prepared by chef Gillian Hegarty (followed directly by end of fest Bikeoke Party). BYO tupperware and take home any leftovers. Registration essential 30 max – free dinner with prebooking! Free, please book, text 085 874 5891 or [email protected]
SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2024 7pm End of festival Bikeoke party – O’Donovans Alley Garden (no need to book) – can anyone top Thady’s performance of Tequilla from last year?
Clonakilty Bike Circus
Christmas Tree Yard at Spiller’s Lane Bike Week Calendar of Events May 11 thru May 19, 2024
All Week
Free Bicycle Safety Checks Come learn about the Bike Circus and what it means to be a member. Have your bike safety checked for free. Meet the Yard Dogz, our friendly crew of volunteers.
The Pushbike’s Companion Want to be your bike’s best friend? Come learn about free bike maintenance and repair courses available at the Bike Circus.
Saturday 11/05 @ 11:00 Hrs
Pre-Flight Your Children’s Bikes for Safety Safety Maintenance. Introduction to Vee Brakes. Brief instruction, then greasy hands play time for all participants.
Saturday 11/05 @ Noon
Group Cycle – Family Adventure We open Bike Week with a family-friendly picnic ramble along Clonakilty Bay, a migratory wildfowl sanctuary. Suitable for all cyclists. Seniors are invited to join us aboard The Silver Bullet, Clon’s free trishaw.
Monday, 13/05 @ Noon Eldercycle – Keep on Bikin’ Over 60 and want to return to cycling? Our resident octogenarian cyclist presents this program just for you. Explore the options for those who still hear the wild goose call.
Monday, 13/05 @ 14:00 Hrs. Wind in Your Hair Assistive Cycling: Electric and specially constructed tandems, bikes, & trikes to make cycling available for all. Silver Bullet spins around Clon all day.
Tuesday, 14/05 @ 14:00 Hrs. ‘Thar Be Dragons!’ Ebikes For the Uninitiated. Ebikes have taken the world, the market is awash in choices. Why are some so dear, others selling as Internet bargains? This is a chance to learn about eBikes free of sales pressure. There will be bikes to examine and discuss. We’ll tell all.
Dogg Oscar Frame Building
What is The Bike Circus?
The Bike Circus is voluntary organization, a tool-share devoted to everyday cycling. We offer free training in bike maintenance & repair and a formal apprenticeship for those who want to dig a little deeper. We fix bikes. We help people fix their own bikes. We build custom bikes for special cyclists. The Circus is open to all and promotes inclusion without regard to age, gender, or physical limitation. We are entirely voluntary and private, receiving no regular funding from any agency or government. All our personnel, ‘The Yard Dogz,’ are volunteers.
We are a spin-off of the Clonakilty Bike Festival and sponsored by Clonakilty Blackpudding. They have assisted us since the outset. We thank them for their contribution.
Come visit us. You’re very welcome. Keep on Bikin’!
Saturday May 11th, 10.00 – Coffee by Bike (starting in town, various coffee shops)
Come with us on a tour of the city’s best independent coffee spots by bike, discover new routes and sample new blends in this easy going social cycle.
Gathering point – Michael Collins
Wednesday May 15th, 13.00 – 14.30 – Douglas Street / Business Event – Bike Douglas Street
An event for businesses of Cork to discuss making their businesses and the city friendlier to cycling.
We will have bikes on hand for a guided cycle of the area as well as a sampling of treats from local businesses.
Gathering point – Parklet Douglas Street.
Wednesday May 15th, 14.30 – 16.30 – Cork through the Spokes
In association with Cork Folklore Project. Come to share your Oral History of Cycling in Cork in the past. Do you remember the bike delivery boys, do you have a story about cycling down Patrick’s Hill? We’d love to hear about that and anything else, come join us for a chat. Location – North Cathedral Visitor Centre
Saturday May 18th, 14.00 – 15.00 – Kids Event (Fitzgerald’s Park) – Super Cycle on the Lee Come dressed as your favourite superhero and cycle a safe path on the riverside along with the best super tunes. Gathering point – Fitzgerald’s Park Cafe
Sunday May 19th – Open for Cycling (Various Start points into City Centre) We lead cycles from key points of the city into the city centre which is Open for Cycling on this day. Gathering points – Various leading to Patrick Street
Leitrim Cycling Festival is a free, family-friendly festival held during Bike Week and will be hosted in Keshcarrigan from May 17-19.
Each year, the festival moves to a different town or village and is organised by a small group of volunteers in collaboration with each local community.
The festival aims to celebrate cycling, communities and the beautiful county of Leitrim in Ireland’s hidden heartlands. Keshcarrigan is a small village in south Leitrim nestled between the hills of Sheebeg, the Ballinamore canal and the lakes of Keshcarrigan and Lough Scur.
This year’s programme includes many of the annual festival highlights including the community cycle and picnic, the launch lap, music, art workshops and of course the much-loved slow bicycle race.
In addition, you will find many events unique to Keshcarrigan, such as the free boat tours of Lough Scur thanks to the Shannon Queen, Astrokids play time, a workshop with local author Maria Hoey, a heritage cycle and treasure hunt, and the Kiltubrid Pipe Band leading the launch lap.
This year’s festival is also during National Biodiversity Week, and thanks to funding from the Irish Environmental Network, the programme includes an event celebrating the cultural and social value of the hawthorn tree with the Leitrim Hawthorn Project.
Come on a nature cycle along the Tralee to Fenit Greenway and meet some of the wild plants and habitats along the way.
Tar linn ar rothaíocht dhúlra ar Bhealach Glas Thrálí – Fhianait, ag buaileadh leis na plandaí ages ghnáthog fhiáin ar an slí.
Meeting Point: Greenway entrance – Opposite Tralee Train Station
Gorey, Co. Wexford. Gorey Pedestrian and Cycling Association & Wexford County Council
A fun morning with bike themed events in Gorey Town Park, including a short Family Slow Roll in Gorey town in association with Gorey Pedestrian and Cycle Association. Slow bike race; prizes for best dressed bike; face painting ,bike themed prizes. Balance Bike Buddies will also be on hand to teach some basic cycling skills to younger children.
Time: 11am to 1pm
Date: Saturday, the 18th of May
Location: Gorey Town Park and local streets of Gorey, Co. Wexford
Suitability: All. Competent cyclists only on the Slow Roll as this takes place on the public streets. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times
BIODIVERSITY BIKE RIDE WITH GOREY PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING ASSOCIATION
Join biodiversity expert Natasha Ariff and the Gorey Pedestrian and Cycling for a biodiversity bike ride and learn how we can protect nature in Gorey. The route will stop by several biodiversity sites in Gorey town where we will learn what we have around us, and how we can do so much more to protect our environment in Gorey. Followed by complimentary refreshments at Gorey Town Park
Time: 11:00pm – 1:00pm
Date: Sunday the 19th of May
Location: Meet at the Heritage Orchard (Next to the Fire Station in Gorey)
Suitability: All fitness levels. Everyone joining must have a roadworthy bicycle, a helmet, hi viz. Limited spaces
Irish Cycling Campaign (formerly Cyclist.ie) has been an active member of the European Cyclists’ Federation for many years – and really first going back to the mid-1990s when Dublin Cycling Campaign was the initial contact point with ECF before our own national body was formed. For the last 15 years (plus), we have attended the ECF AGM, and this year Damien Ó Tuama flew the ICC flag at the gathering. In this article, he shares some reflections on what was a fruitful and enjoyable trip.
Back in Zagreb It was great to be back in Zagreb, a city I first visited back in 2008 when on a camper-van adventure with a good friend and with two old single speed foldable bikes on board. Zagreb is a friendly city, and it’s an easy place to move about in on their distinctive blue trams and on foot. It’s also easy enough to bike around the city and I elaborate on this below. I was delighted to be in the Croatian capital again and this time reconnecting with my ECF colleagues, including those I worked with closely during my time on the ECF Board from 2016-2021.
The Formal AGM The ECF AGM was held in the quite beautiful “Journalist Building” which is close enough to the centre of the city. The building was funded by the Croatian Journalists’ Association, one of the oldest professional associations in Croatia (established in 1910), and it is still owned by it. It’s the meeting point for Croatian journalists and media workers, but also a venue for different cultural, literary, scientific and artistic events. It was a perfect size for our posse of around 60 participants, with a lovely view from the curved balcony as shown here.
The formal part of the AGM took place over two days – a full day’s business on the Friday and a further half day of debate and discussions on the Saturday morning.
ECF AGM delegates plus ECF staff – Photo kindly provided by ECF
The CEO of ECF is Jill Warren (@JillWarrenECF), and she has been at the helm of the organisation since 2020. Jill gave a great overview of what has been another effective year of advocacy work for ECF. Probably the highlight of the last year came in the last few months when the European Council, Commission and Parliament signed the European Declaration on Cycling, marking the official adoption of the first inter-institutional cycling policy at the European level. Amongst other benefits, this Declaration can be referred to by national organisations all around Europe as it shows the direction that transport policy needs to take over the coming years. Another work area that Jill highlighted were the significant lobbying efforts made to reshape the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive which now sets, for the very first time, European minimum bicycle parking norms for virtually all types of buildings, both residential as well as non-residential – see here. Huge credit is due to all of the staff here, but particularly Fabian Küster who has been working on this topic for well over 5 years.
Overall, ECF is in good shape, with a wide portfolio of funding sources underpinning its day-to-day functioning and enabling it to employ 20+ super committed and knowledgeable staff members.
Some of Jill’s highlights of ECF’s work in 2023-2024
Elections for the board took place on Day #2 after the candidates had introduced themselves on Day #1. There was a very healthy interest in the process with a total of 16 candidates applying in February for four available board positions. I was part of a three person Nominations Committee, along with (current board member) Camille Thomé and (former board member) Raluca Fiser, that had the job of encouraging potential candidates to apply, analysing applications, interviewing candidates and producing a short-list of recommended candidates for the election itself – not an easy job with so many good applicants vying to be on the ECF Board!
Electronic voting underway in the ECF Board Elections
In the end, Henk Swarttouw (@copenhenken) from The Netherlands was re-elected as President of the Board (the only applicant for this position), with Sidsel Burk Hjuler (Denmark) and Graham Waston (UK) both re-elected for a second three year term, and with the final vacant position going to Siliva Casorran from Barcelona. They join the four existing board members Francesco Baroncini (Italy), Camille Thomé (France), Jan Vermeulen (Belgium) and Angela Francke (Germany). All in all, it’s a strong board with a decent gender mix and a reasonably good geographical representation, although it is missing someone from the eastern part of the Continent.
L-R: Tena Šarić Rukavina and Ema Tarabochia Veršić from Sindkat Biciklista
There was plenty of good debates at the AGM, particularly in regard to the mid-term review of the ECF Strategy and in response to the panel discussion on “How to make cycling an election issue?” In that session, ECF moderated a discussion with members on the strategies, tactics and messages needed to make cycling a relevant issue during election season, and how election campaigns focused on cycling can reach political incumbents and candidates from across the political spectrum. It was nicely moderated by Philip Amaral (@AmaralPhilip), ECF’s Director of Policy and Development, who is also ECF’s contact point for the European elections. These discussions will feed into Irish Cycling Campaign’s own plans ahead of the Local and European elections – see https://cyclist.ie/2024/04/asks-for-local-elections-candidates/.
Philip Amaral, ECF’s Director of Policy and Development
Some conclusions from the Croatian cycle campaigners on how to make cycling an election issue
Jens Peter Hansen (Danish Cyclists’ Federation) spoke on his work of quantifying motor vehicles’ close passing of him on Danish roads.
Getting About in Zagreb / Cycling Trips All of the AGM delegates has access to Zagreb’s Nextbike bike sharing scheme for the duration of the AGM and over the weekend, but I also took the tram quite a bit as it was super easy and convenient. Just 53c for a ticket if bought in advance (or 80c if bought from the tram driver). The trams themselves span a mixture of older ones going back to the 1950s (the ones common to much of Eastern and Central European cities – as shown below) to much bigger and slicker brand new ones (shown further below).
Hats off to local ECF Member group and the AGM hosts, Sindikat Biciklista (@cyklofil), for organising a really entertaining and informative city bike ride for all of the ECF participants! We started and finished at the Croatian National Theatre and got a great insight into the city’s history and culture – and its topography!
Shared running of trams and bikes in the centre of Zagreb ECF on tour in the old town!
Janko and Zvoni from Sindikat Biciclista, the Croatian Cycling Campaign
A sculpture by Ivan Meštrović showing Nikola Tesla, one of the most famous sons of Croatia (or of the Austrian Empire as it was then)
Sindikat Biciklista also organised a special cycle trip on the Sunday morning, where we explored the southern part of the city including the extensive sports campus in which cars are being systematically removed so as to reduce road dangers and encourage more walking and cycling.
The Sunday morning cycle crew. Back row, L-R: Stefan (Montenegro), Hugo (Switzerland), Damien (Ireland), Sladjana (Montenegro / Norway), Blazo (Montenegro), Igor (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Dejan (Montenegro), Dragan (Bosnia & Herzegovina); Front row, L-R: Silvia (Spain), Marko (Serbia), Robert (Croatia) – Photo kindly provided by Dragan!
One of Zagreb’s self-service egg vending machines
In terms of the quality of the cycling infrastructure in the city, it’s fair to say that it’s a real mixed bag. There are many cycle tracks positioned directly alongside footpaths on the main avenues, and people on bikes lose priority on a regular basis at side roads. There are also plenty of examples of ridiculously narrow cycle lanes – narrower than the width of one’s shoulders – which are squeezed in by removing space for pedestrians, while the main carriageways remain dominated by often multi-lane fast moving cars (as shown below). That said there are plenty of quieter streets where cycling is the perfect way to get about – particularly in the old town.
Both parked and fast moving cars dominate much of Zagreb’s public space – with super narrow cycle tracks squeezed in here and there
Social Events As important for catching up properly with colleagues from other ECF member groups are the social events organised as part of the AGM. We were very impressed to have the official ECF AGM 2024 dinner taking place at Dverce Palace, at the invitation of the City of Zagreb, with a welcome address by Mayor Mr. Tomislav Tomašević (shown below).
L-R: Jill Warren (ECF CEO), Henk Swarttouw (ECF President), Mr. Tomislav Tomašević (Major of Zagreb), Janko Večerina (President of Sindikat Biciclista, the Croatian Cycling Campaign) and the staff of the Mayor
The rest of the ECF AGM delegates!
And following the grandeur of the Mayor’s palace, we meandered down a narrow lane and slipped into a slightly hidden and much more informal jazz bar with a fine beer garden out the back for further catch-ups with colleagues.
In Summary As always, when meeting up with the ECF gang, it’s a lovely friendly affair. One is reconnecting with friends and colleagues, all of whom are campaigning hard in their own countries – and/or at an European level – to improve conditions for cycling and to make places more liveable. I’m particularly grateful to the hosts from Sindikat Biciklista (pictured below), who ran a brilliantly organised and most enjoyable AGM. They brought us to some fine formal venues, but also some very decent bars for music and chat – it’s so good to have that expert local knowledge guiding us in the host city! Hats off to Janko and his team for a fine job.
Personally, it was also great spending time with cycling campaigners from the Balkans – not only from Croatia, but also from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia (with their new e-biking organisation) — and getting a sense of how they are campaigning in their cities and towns. My most memorable conversations though were with the cycling advocates from TUBIDEF in Turkey. Of their group, Serafettin is from the city of Antakya, which was pretty much completely flattened in the earthquake of early 2023 – see here – including his entire district and apartment buildings which he showed me in recently captured videos of his area. It was quite unfathomable how obliterated his city was, and the massive death toll experienced there. My heart goes out to him and his people as they embark on a long journey of dealing with so much grief and rebuilding the city.
As always, it was a rich and enjoyable experience attending the ECF AGM and spending time with other campaigners who are properly clued into what is happening in their local and national political contexts, and who enjoy a chat and a beer. The next AGM of ECF will take place in Brussels in 2025 and, all going well, we will have a mini-delegation from Irish Cycling Campaign attending, including some new faces on our side.
National Biodiversity Week 2024 runs over 10 days from Fri 17 to Sunday 26 May. It is organised by the Irish Environmental Network (IEN), with funding provided to them by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
The week is all about connecting people with nature and communicating the importance of biodiversity and the need to protect it. It’s also about entertainment and socialising though, and Irish Cycling Campaign is busy planning ‘Bikes and Biodiversity’ events in many parts of the country through our local groups. We acknowledge here the kind support of IEN (which we became a member of in late 2023) in enabling us to run these events.
You can see the full list of events here:
Local Group leading the Event
Bikes & Biodiversity Event
Website / Webpage with more info on the event
Clonakilty Bicycle Festival
Clonakilty Bicycle Festival hosted River Cycle in collaboration with Clochán Uisce (local rivers group), a cycle to explore the biodiversity in our local riversand check its health including kick sampling and water testing as part of the EU drinkable rivers program, Family friendly. Sunday 19th May at 3pm.
Clonakilty Bicycle Festival hosted Bird Watch estuary Sunset cycle cycle from clinical town to the Inchydoney estuary identifying local bird species, run in collaboration with Bird Watch Ireland. Sat 18th May (time TBC – tidal related).
Clonakilty Bicycle Festival hosted Stop, Look, Listen Biodiversity cycle. Cycle a lap of the town to the biodiversity garden at Bennetts Field, and listen to three pieces of music on the theme of nature and biodiversity. Sunday 19th May, 10.30am.
Cloughjordan Cycling hosted `NatureCycles` – a guided looped cycle to natural heritage locations in the wider Cloughjordan area where the guide will inform about each locations nature value. The cycle will include a visit to a small family run organic farm to learn more about their diverse agri-ecosystem. Sunday 19th May.
Gorey Pedestrian & Cycling Association hosted Biodiversity Bike Ride. “Instead of Nature walks, come for a Nature cycle (or ride). The cycle route will stop by several biodiversity areas in Gorey. Learn what we have and how we can do so much more to protect the nature in Gorey.
Kerry Cycling Campaign hosted Nature Cycle along the Tralee to Fenit Greenway and meet some of the wild plants and habitats along the way. Tar linn arrothaíocht dhúlra ar Bhealach Glas Thrálí – Fhianait, ag buaileadh leis na plandaí ages ghnáthog fhiáin ar an slí. Led by Niamh Ní Dhúill (Natural Wild Gardens) and Cathy Eastman.
Hosted by Leitrim Cycling Festival with the Leitrim Hawthorn Project. As part of the Leitrim Cycling Festival (this year in Keshcarrigan), the event will celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of the Hawthorn tree through music, dance, storytelling and sharing the folklore and medicinal properties of the tree and discovering its key role in supporting biodiversity. Facilitated by Tara Boath Mooney, artist, singer, facilitator who has helped lead the community heritage project and its research into the Hawthorn traditions throughout Leitrim.
Naas Cycling Campaign / Naas Biodiversity Group hosted event. Explore nature-friendly projects completed by the Naas Biodiversity Group in recent years. For example, our Pocket Forests, rainwater planters, plus hedgerows that have been newly planted or rejuvenated through hedge laying. Meet like-minded people and learn practical tips to protect nature in your local area! The event is children-friendly (and for people who are not super confident cycling!), as we’ll be cycling slowly and over a relatively short route.
When: Friday 17th May at 7-9pm
Where: Meeting at the Naas Lakes, Naas, Co. Kildare. We will cycle together to K Leisure, stopping along the way to discuss different projects.
No registration necessary, just turn up on the way! If you need a bike or have any questions, contact the Naas Biodiversity Group on [email protected] or 0894147367.
Sligo Cycling Campaign hosted ‘After work Biodiversity Cycle to Strandhill and Culleenamore Sand Dunes’ to study Coastal Biodiversity Picnic with supper included as participants will miss an evening meal at home. Guided by an Ecologist from Woodrow. Thu 23rd May 2024, 5.30pm to 9pm.
Wexford Bicycle User Group hosted Biodiversity Cycle to Wexford Wildfowl Reserve / Wexford Slobs with a guide from NPWS / Wexford Naturalist Field Club.
Adam D’Arcy from Cork Cycling Campaign is just back from Oulu in Finland and he has kindly sent Irish Cycling Campaign a little report on his cycling experiences in, arguably, the leading city in the world for winter cycling. Many thanks Adam!
This April (2024), I got to spend a week in Oulu, Finland as part of an Erasmus exchange with Oulu University. It is roughly the same size as Cork city in population but feels quite different in character.
The city grew in the 1960s when new industries expanded attracting workers from rural areas. The original street grid pattern was more intensely occupied, but new suburbs emerged with a mix of apartment blocks and single family homes nestled between the pine trees in a sort of park-like landscape.
The default wide paths are shared between walkers and cyclists, but they also have a network of two-way cycle routes (Baana) which provide a way to cycle almost anywhere with minimal interaction with cars. This enables school kids, students, workers or leisure cyclists to soak in some nature as they get around. Cars must yield to cyclists where these Baana cross the roads and, incredibly, the cars do stop!
By the use of underpasses they avoid busy roads, while the islands of the bay are linked by bridges providing nice views of the water framed by trees.
They style themselves as a leader in Winter Cycling and even in a good bit of snow, there were plenty of cyclists around. Most cyclists have summer tyres, but also winter tyres which have little metal studs and are essential in snow, thus enabling year round cycling.
With the help of Damien Ó Tuama and our friends in the European Cyclists’ Federation, I got in touch with the local branch of the Finnish Cyclists’ Federation – Oulun Polkupyöräilijät (try saying that after a few beers!) – and their Chairperson, Anni, kindly lent me a bike for the week for my daily commute to the university and other excursions. As it happened, they had a meeting lined up while I was there so I went along and met them for a pint and a chat.
They face similar issues to ourselves, cycle path maintenance, interaction with pedestrians etc., but all in all, they are streets ahead of us when it comes to daily cycling – about 20% of trips are done by bike and they want to do even more. Well worth a visit if you get half a chance.
If you are abroad over the coming months and end up in a place which has a strong cycling culture or in a city/country which is making special efforts to grow cycling – and you fancy penning a few words on your trip – we would love to hear from you! Just drop our National Cycling Coordinator a line here.
Irish Cycling Campaign was delighted to be invited to the Dutch Cycling Trade Mission to Ireland networking event last week (on Wed 10 April 2024).
The “B2B” (Business-to-Business) Marketplace Networking event was held in the offices of the Dublin Chamber of Commence. Dr. Damien Ó Tuama (National Cycling Coordinator with Irish Cycling Campaign and An Taisce), and Siobhán McNamara (from the Dublin Cycling Campaign Local Group of ICC) attended, representing everyday bicycle users and advocates on the ground.
The aim of the mission was to deepen ties between the two countries in terms of achieving greater levels of sustainability – and building connections and potential collaborations between organisations from both countries.
In a nicely crafted event format, the Ireland based invitees in the audience introduced themselves and their organisations, and this was followed by rapid-fire one-minute long presentations from each of the 16 Dutch companies on the Dutch Cycling Embassy trade mission. They each gave a brief insight into their expertises in different aspects of cycling policy and design. After the event, the Dutch delegation traveled to Cork where they did a similar networking event, and met the main players in the transport space.
From Irish Cycling Campaign’s perspective, we are very happy to see Dutch engineering, planning and mobility focused companies arriving in Ireland to seek out new business opportunities and to bring their cycling expertise here. With a significant slice of the transport budget now being spent on active travel, we have a great opportunity to draw on some of the best practice ideas in urban design, cycling route design, bicycle parking and the integration of public transport and bikes – and learn from the Dutch. Ultimately, we want to arrive at a situation where everyone in Ireland “has a real choice to cycle and is encouraged to experience the joy, convenience, health and environmental benefits of cycling” as per Irish Cycling Campaign’s vision.
Presenting as shown in the photos above are (from top to bottom):
In a groundbreaking move last week, Bus Éireann has championed accessibility and sustainable travel by waiving the €10 fee previously required for the onboard inclusion of bicycles, extra luggage, and prams across its urban and regional services.
This welcome change, effective immediately on all Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes, marks a significant shift away from the previous policy, which often saw the cost of transporting a bicycle eclipsing the price of the journey itself.
While the removal of this fee heralds a more inclusive approach to travel, accommodating the needs of cyclists, families, and heavy packers alike, Bus Éireann has noted that the availability of space remains a determining factor in the acceptance of bicycles, prams, and pushchairs on board.
It’s important to note, however, that the fee discontinuation does not extend to Expressway services, where standard charges will persist.
Neasa Bheilbigh, Chairperson of the Executive Committee of The Irish Cycling Campaign said “This is a small but positive step in the right direction, providing more sustainable journeys combining bus and bicycle. We will continue to push to abolish fees for carrying bicycles, on all routes and by all bus operators”
The Irish Cycling Campaign regularly meets with officials from the Department of Transport – and with the main transport agencies with a role in developing cycling policies and legislation – so as to advocate for improved outcomes for people with bicycles and this is one of the issues we raised in a recent meeting. Do please help us to maintain a strong voice and champion all aspects of cycling by making a donation or becoming a member. See https://cyclist.ie/join/.
Try it
We’re interested to hear your experiences bringing your bicycle on a bus. Post a photo and tag us!
