Galway City Bike Week

Galway

Bike Rack
Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Recent research highlights the significant potential to induce modal shift from car based travel to cycling in Galway. In 2010, 47% of the population of the Galway Metropolitan Smarter Travel Area resided 4km, or under, from work or education. Within this context, National Bike Week provided a timely and unique setting from which to accelerate and intensify promotion and uptake of cycling in Galway, particularly given its health, environmental and transportation benefits.

National Bike Week provided an opportunity to trial new initiatives identified in the Draft Walking and Cycling Strategy for Galway City and Environs and changes needed as highlighted in Galway Metropolitan Smarter Travel Area Action Plan (2010 - 2015). Within this context, a contra-flow cycle lane was introduced in the Newtownsmith area of Galway City on a pilot basis to operate over the period Monday June 14 to Friday June 18 2010. The pilot contra-flow cycle lane attracted significant debate in Galway City regarding the implications for businesses and traffic from the development of such initiatives. Feedback received proved vital to Galway Transportation Unit in terms of fine-tuning the rollout and delivery of future initiatives.

Critical Mass Cycle

NUI Galway Critical Mass Cycle Participants

Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Critical Mass Cycle
Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Critical Mass Cycle

NUI Galway Critical Mass Cycle Participants

Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Enlarge image

An NUI, Galway Critical Mass Cycle took place at lunchtime on Friday June 18 2010 which also involved the participation of the Raleigh Around Ireland cyclist Paul O’ Donoghue, who arrived in Galway City the previous evening en route to Castlebar. This event attracted representatives from a broad range of different organisations and a large number of staff and postgraduate students from NUI, Galway. They cycled around the City Centre of Galway City enjoying applause from passerbys and onlookers.

West Coast Wheelers Cycling Club hosted a bike maintenance workshop on Tuesday June 15, 2010 as part of Bike Week. This workshop focused on the principal parts of a bike, the checklist of things to look out for from a safety point of view and the basics of a tool kit to have at home.

The Pedal-A-Smoothie initiative was held in Áras an Chontae on Monday, 14th June 2010 and provided members of the public and staff with an opportunity to make their own healthy smoothies on the smoothie bike. The event provided a fun and enjoyable introduction to Bike Week and served to generate significant discussion on cycling.

Family Bicycle Treasure Hunt

This event, which is now in its second year featured an Explorer and an Adventurer course, which were designed to cater for the needs of different aged children

Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Family Bicycle Treasure Hunt
Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Family Bicycle Treasure Hunt

This event, which is now in its second year featured an Explorer and an Adventurer course, which were designed to cater for the needs of different aged children

Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Enlarge image

The Family Bicycle Treasure Hunt proved very popular attracting more than 100 adults and children particularly families with young children. The event, which is now in its second year featured an Explorer and an Adventurer course, which were designed to cater for the needs of different aged children. A significant portion of this event took place on the NUI, Galway campus.

Bike To Work

Galway Transportation Unit, Galway City Council liased with Galway Chamber and Galway City Business Association to encourage organisations to incentivise staff to cycle to work on this day in particular

Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Bike To Work
Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Bike To Work

Galway Transportation Unit, Galway City Council liased with Galway Chamber and Galway City Business Association to encourage organisations to incentivise staff to cycle to work on this day in particular

Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

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Galway City Council and Galway County Council adopted a proactive approach to encourage as many organisations in Galway to promote uptake of Bike to Work Day. Galway Transportation Unit, Galway City Council liased with Galway Chamber and Galway City Business Association to encourage organisations to incentivise staff to cycle to work on this day in particular. To support Bike to Work Day, NUI, Galway also developed a central webpage aimed at enabling individuals to publicly state their intention to cycle to work, and to describe their route. The webpage went live on Monday June 14 2010 of bike week. Over 140 individuals signed up to take part from a total of 17 different companies.

Off the Beaten Track – A Guided Heritage Cycle Journey of Galway City’ cycle

More than 60 cyclists paticipated in thic cycle through rural landscapes on the East side of Galway City

Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Off the Beaten Track – A Guided Heritage Cycle Journey of Galway City’ cycle
Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Off the Beaten Track – A Guided Heritage Cycle Journey of Galway City’ cycle

More than 60 cyclists paticipated in thic cycle through rural landscapes on the East side of Galway City

Courtesy of Cathy Joyce

Enlarge image

During Bike Week, Galway Transportation Unit installed bike racks in a number of locations in Galway City. For the bike racks that were rolled out during Bike Week, demand was very clear with full use of these racks evident almost immediately.

More than 60 cyclists participated in this leisurely cycle through the historical rural landscapes on the East side of Galway City on the ‘Off the Beaten Track – A Guided Heritage Cycle Journey of Galway City’ cycle.

Galway City Bike Week was part of National Bike Week 2010 which ran from 13 to 20 June, 2010 and featured some 400 individual events throughout the country.