Gear up for Bike Week 2021 in Fingal

Ireland’s 13th annual Bike Week takes place from September 12th to 18th 2021. Bike Week is a perfect opportunity for people of all ages and mobility levels to enjoy cycling activities and build active travel into their daily life.

Throughout Bike Week, Fingal County Council will host a series of exciting events catering to all levels of cycling ability and experience.

This year’s theme is ‘Love your bike’ and Director of Services for Fingal County Council’s Department of Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel David Storey says he hopes to see many people learning to love cycling; ‘Bike Week is the ideal time to drag your bike out of the shed and get going, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve gone for a cycle. Cycling isn’t just for people who are in clubs or who enjoy it as a sport, it’s also a very cheap, active, healthy and sustainable way to travel. Why not cycle there instead? This week you could try dropping the kids to school by bike or pop to the shops using pedal power instead of taking the car. Small changes like these can make a huge difference to our climate and our wellbeing.’

Events planned include Adult Cycling Workshops in Swords and Hartstown, a Glow in the Dark Cycle at Malahide Castle, a virtual Pedal for Your Medal challenge, the launch of a Bike Maintenance video library online, #CycleThere photo competition and Bling Your Bike and Superhero Cycle initiatives for schools featuring exciting prizes. The event programme culminates in a very special cycling focussed Family Fun Day at St. Catherine’s Park, Dublin 15 on Saturday, 18 September.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy BMX tracks, street velodrome, free bike safety checks, a cycling safety course for kids and more. Fingal County Council will also be showcasing two exciting upcoming projects on the day; Ireland’s first wooden sustainable bike sharing vehicle and Cycling Without Age triobikes.  Cycling Without Age is an initiative which offers bike rides to older people and those with limited mobility through a volunteer scheme and will soon launch in St. Catherine’s Park, Skerries and on the Baldoyle/Portmarnock greenway.

The Family Fun Day runs from 10am to 6pm at St. Catherine’s Park, Lucan which has great cycling, walking and public transport connections. Those attending the event are encouraged to leave the car at home and use active travel to get to St. Catherine’s Park.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Seána Ó’Rodaigh was joined by Deputy Mayor Cllr Daniel Whooley, councillors from across Fingal and members of the Active Travel team for a series of celebratory cycles this weekend. Groups got together at Newbridge House, Malahide Castle and Demesne and at St. Catherine’s Park in Lucan ahead of a week of very special events and online activities. 

‘It’s great to get cycling with my colleagues’, said Mayor Ó Rodaigh, ‘Recent times have proven just how important it is that we all find healthy ways to relax and unwind. What better way to spend time with friends and family than outdoors on your bike? I cycle to work every day and not only is it quicker than driving but much more enjoyable too! I would encourage people to get out on their bikes as often as they can.’

Launching Fingal County Council’s event programme Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly says she is encouraged to see how transport is changing in Fingal. ‘Our Active Travel team has been working hard since it was established in 2020 to drive behavioural change and encourage people to get active and use active travel to make local journeys in particular. We have upgraded many kilometres of protected cycle lanes, delivered programmes like Gearing up for Training to sports clubs and opened very successful Greenway projects across Fingal. There are several exciting projects in the pipeline for areas across Fingal such as the Fingal Coastal Way, the Royal Canal Urban Greenway and the Broadmeadow Greenway. We intend to make Fingal a haven for cyclists and pedestrians and safe active travel continues to be a major priority as we plan for the future of the county.’

So whether you’re interested in attending a guided cycling workshop, want to learn to maintain your bike using online videos or plan to take an easy family cycle in your area, Bike Week is a great time to rediscover the joy of cycling and learn to ‘love your bike’!

Bike Week is an initiative of the National Transport Authority and is supported by TFI, Fingal County Council and other Local Authorities throughout Ireland.

Further information can be found at www.fingal.ie/active-travel/bikeweek