Bike Week 2010 announced

J0218630079More details of Bike Week 2010 were announced yesterday by the Department of Transport:

Press release

14 May 2010

Cycling legend Sean Kelly joined Ministers Noel Dempsey and Ciarán Cuffe as they announced the details of Bike Week 2010 today

Minister Dempsey said, “I’m delighted that Sean has joined us for this launch. Sean not only lifted the hearts of the nation during the eighties and nineties with his extraordinary cycling achievements but he also raised awareness of cycling generally during his wonderful career. Bike Week aims to raise the profile of cycling – for leisure, competition and commuting – not only during the period 13 to 20 June, but throughout the year.”

Minister Cuffe said, “Bike Week is about connecting with different types of cyclists: the regular cycling commuter; the sports cyclist and those leisure cyclists who may not get on the bike as often as they’d like. In implementing the National Cycling Policy, of which Bike Week is a key part, we’re trying to get more people to choose the bike as their primary mode of transport and to realise the health and fitness benefits of cycling regularly. As an everyday cyclist, it’s great to see that so many events will be taking place locally across the island of Ireland as part of Bike Week.”

Sean Kelly said he was delighted to be an ambassador for Bike Week. “Cycling has given me a terrific life and I’m privileged to continue my work for the sport, particularly in association with the An Post Cycle Series. The Series has already visited Sligo this year and will visit Clare, Cork, Meath and Waterford over the Summer months. I’m delighted that An Post’s Tour de Burren takes place on 19 June this year, and will be a key Bike Week event.”

Key cycling events – organised by a range of players – to happen during Bike Week are listed in Information Sheet Number 1 attached. Due to the fact that Bike Week is a nationwide effort comprising multiple events at local level, organised by 32 local authorities in conjunction with local sports partnerships, cycling enthusiasts and campaigns, it is not feasible, at this time, to provide details of every event. Information Sheet Number 2 contains details of the participating local areas. Full details of events will be posted on www.bikeweek.ie as they come to hand.

To assist people in publicising Bike Week and in organising their own events, www.bikeweek.ie also carries free poster downloads.

Bike Week 2010 has an all-island flavour with events in Northern Ireland being delivered though the Department For Regional Development Northern Ireland in association with local councils. For details of Bike Week events in Northern Ireland, visitwww.travelwiseni.com.

Bike Week 2010 aims to be more than just a week of activities. Among ongoing actions or actions taken to date are –

Secondary School Cycle School Week from 10 to 14 May has encouraged students back on their bikes with the incentive of prizes in the form of cycle parking. Details of the winners will be announced during Bike Week.

Third level colleges are being encouraged during the month of May to promote on-campus cycling. DIT has already held a Bike to College Day and Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, UCC and UCD are also getting students back in the saddle.

The CyclizeyourCity competition is up and running at www.cyclizeyourcity.ie and invites anyone interested in photography, graphic design or art to remodel urban landscapes to show what it will be like when bikes rule the world. This competition, with valuable prizes, closes on 1 June.

One4all Bikes4work are arranging to have information units in Dublin City during the week to inform everyone about events and provide information on theBikes4work tax break.

32 local authorities and partners have signed up to run events in their areas during Bike Week.

Bike Week 2010 is a cross-community effort to highlight cycling as a fun, cost effective and healthy way to travel. The group comprises cyclist.ie (Ireland’s National Cyclist Lobby Group), the Dublin Cycling Campaign, representatives from the various strands of the cycle industry, An Taisce, local authorities, the health sector, Cycling Ireland, private individuals, the Office of Public Works, the National Transport Authority, the Road Safety Authority, the Department For Regional Development Northern Ireland and the Department of Transport. A number of the events during Bike Week 2010 are being kindly supported by a wide range of sponsors including the Embassy of Denmark, An Post and All4one Bikes4work.

Information Sheet number 1

Key Events During Bike Week 2010

Sunday 13 June

Cycling Ireland (www.cyclingireland.ie) have organised the Raleigh Around Ireland event which will see three riders depart from the Spire in O’Connell Street and between them, over the course of the week, cycle through all 32 counties linking up with schools and communities on their routes.

Galway Bicycle treasure Hunt led by Galway Cycling Campaign

*The Wicklow 200 cycling event starts and finishes at Greystones. Full details at www.wicklow200.ie

Monday 14 June

The Bike Week 10 minute cycle challenge for workplaces begins. Teams from companies around the country (which must include at least one “new” cyclist) will record every time they get on their bike for ten minutes or more and compete for cycling related prizes sponsored by Trek. Full details will be available on www.cyclechallenge.ie shortly.

Wednesday 16 June

This has been designated as Cycle to School Day with events happening at primary schools around the country in association with An Taisce’s Green-Schools Travel Module.

A cycle chic fashion event in the Rotunda in City Hall organised by Dublin City Council in association with the Embassy of Denmark, in association with Biomega, Christiana Bikes and Velorbis (admission by ticket only).

Thursday 17 June

Winner of Cyclise your City competition to be announced in Gallery One, Dublin. There is still time to enter this competition with its valuable prize. Full details at www.Cyclizeyourcity.ie

Friday 18 June

*International cycle race in Belfast. Five professional teams from Ireland (representing each of the four provinces and the An Post Cycle Team) and five teams from the UK will battle it out on over a short course circuit. Bike Week details in Northern Ireland from www.travelwiseni.com

Cycle to Work Day – Everyone is encouraged to cycle to work today. To celebrate that Friday feeling, Dublin cyclists will converge on Grand Canal Square after work to demonstrate that cycling is the way to get around town. Bikes4Work (www.Bikes4work.ie) will announce the overall winner of their week-long competition which will invite cyclists to upload innovative and quirky photographs of themselves and their bikes. The Dublin Cycling Campaign will announce the winner of their Golden Pedal Award for the business which has done most for cycling in the past year.

*South Dublin County Council open their off-road, canal-side, cycling and walking route from the 12th Lock at Lucan Road Bridge to the 3rd Lock at Inchicore.

The Bike Week 10 minute cycle challenge for workplaces comes to a close.

Saturday 19 June

*An Post’s Tour de Burren takes place. Join Sean Kelly for a day of cycling fun for families (and the more competitive among you) in Ballyvaughan. (www.anpost.ie/AnPost/content/Cycling/An+Post+Cycle+Series/)

International cycle race in Dublin. On road racing returns to Dublin as five professional teams from Ireland (representing each of the four provinces and the An Post Cycle Team) and five teams from the UK battle it out on over a short course circuit through Temple Bar. Thrills and spills guaranteed!

Sunday 20 June

Pedal in the Park – the national closing event. Cyclists from all over the island are invited to celebrate Bike Week in the Phoenix Park with a fun-filled family event. Wear you county colours and prove that cycling is a 32 county passion. There may even be some cycling freebies on offer!

Cycling Ireland’s Raleigh Around Ireland’s riders converge in Mullingar for an afternoon of celebrations having visited all of the 32 counties.

*organised independently of, but happening during, Bike Week

Information sheet number 2

Countrywide – multiple events will be taking place in many areas

(Full details will be posted on www.bikeweek.ie as they come to hand)

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