This year Bike Week looks a little different. We’ve organised online meetings, info sessions and working groups since March, and so we’re using this experience to bring you a series of webinars with guests from Ireland, Europe, and the USA.
Bike Parking and the Bottom Line
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on local businesses and retail in Galway city and county. We’re all living our lives more locally these days and government advice is to walk or cycle where possible. International research and the experience of Dublin shows that quality and inclusive bike parking is an investment in local and loyal customers.
His Excellency, Adriaan Palm, Ambassador at The Netherlands Embassy to Ireland
Chris Bruntlett, Dutch Cycling Embassy and co-author of Building the Cycling City: The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality
Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town
Clodagh Colleran, Development Studies Association of Ireland, Trinity College Dublin
Safer Roads, Safer Cities, Better Lives: The view from Europe and the UN
Decisions made by the European Commission and the UN have an impact on the road design and safety of our urban roads, residential streets, and bóithirín.
Insights into the impact of the lockdown on road safety from across Europe will be discussed as well as ideas for how we deal with a transition out of it.
Our guests from Europe will share how and why safe walking and cycling infrastructure and reducing speeds must be at the heart of our transport and mobility evolution.
Matthew Baldwin, the first European Coordinator for Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility
Ellen Townsend, Policy Director at the European Transport Safety Council
Rod King MBE, Founder and Campaign Director of 20’s Plenty for Us
MOTHERLOAD, virtual community screening in Galway and Q&A with director Liz Canning
Date: Sunday, 27 September 2020, 7.30pm – 10pm
Our grand finale to Bike Week 2020 is hosting MOTHERLOAD as a virtual community screening and covideo party. We’re delighted that director Liz Canning will join us for a Q&A on Zoom immediately afterward for a panel discussion with urban liveability and health experts.
This 86 minute documentary from the USA captures a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of modern life, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. It won a Sundance Special Jury Prize in 2019.
Join the covideo party on Twitter using the hashtags #MOTHERLOAD #MOTHERLOADgalway
Post-screening Q&A with
Liz Canning, director of MOTHERLOAD
Neasa Bheilbigh, Galway Cycle Bus
Síle Ginnane, co-founder of Better Ennis
Jo Sachs-Elderidge, organiser of the Leitrim Cycling Festival and co-author of A Vision for Cycling in Rural Ireland by the Rural Cycling Collective
Bike Week 2020 webinars hosted by Galway Cycling Campaign are funded through a grant awarded by Galway City Council through the Active Travel initiative by the Government of Ireland
Galway Cycling Campaign was awarded funds this week from Galway city and county councils for an ambitious, diverse and inclusive range of events for Bike Week 2020 which begins this Saturday 19 September and runs until Sunday 27 September.
Webinars, live streaming events, social media events, social media engagement, online video, and podcasting are some of the ways Galway Cycling Campaign will engage people in everyday cycling.
“We’re disappointed that with covid restrictions, it’s not possible to offer people as many changes to engage with us face to face,” said Martina Callanan, deputy chairperson.
“Since March we’ve hosted many online events and we’re pleased to offer a terrific programme with high profile guest speakers on a range of everyday cycling topics, as well as creative ways for people to share their everyday cycle journeys.”
Are bikes good for business?
His Excellency Mr Adriaan Palm, Ambassador at The Netherlands Embassy to Ireland
Dutch Ambassador to Ireland, HE Adriaan Palm will be the special guest at a lunchtime webinar on Thursday 24 September on “Bike Parking Means Business: investing in bicycle parking is investing in local and loyal customers”.
Ambassador Palm will be joined by a Dutch expert and CEO of Dublin Town, Richard Guiney.
This event will be of particular interest to local businesses and retailers in the city centre, suburbs, and county.
Road safety: European and international policy perspective
Matthew Baldwin, European Coordinator for Road Safety
On Friday lunchtime, Matthew Baldwin, the first European Coordinator for Road Safety and DG MOVE Deputy Director General, will be the key speaker at a webinar on road safety.
He will outline why cities across Europe are embracing 30kmph speed limits in retail, recreational and residential areas.
The Deputy DG will also discuss the challenges and opportunity for active travel during coronavirus.
MOTHERLOAD, the movie – trailer (2019) Winner of Sundance Special Jury Prize
The finale for Bike Week will be a special covideo party of MOTHERLOAD on Sunday 27 September at 7.30pm. This 86 minute documentary from the USA captures a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of modern life, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. It won a Sundance Special Jury Prize in 2019.
Filmmaker Liz Canning cycled everywhere until her twins were born in 2008. Motherhood was challenging and hauling babies via car felt stifling. She googled ‘family bike’ and discovered people using cargo bikes: long-frame bicycles designed for carrying heavy loads. Liz set out to learn more, and documented her journey.
MOTHERLOAD will be streamed online and people are invited to join in the covideo party and Twitter conversation using the hashtag #MOTHERLOADGalway. Free tickets are available.
Director Liz Canning will join a panel of health and urban liveability experts for a post-screening discussion and Q&A on Zoom.
The Fancy Women Bike Ride is an annual global event celebrating women on wheels. We will have a virtual parade in2020.
There will be two virtual events on social media with prizes for creative participation. Galway will join the annual international “Fancy Women Bike Ride’ of women reclaiming streets by celebrating cycling on Tuesday 22 September. Teenage girls, mums and older women are especially invited to post videos and photos on social media of cycling with family and friends and tag @GalwayCycling plus #FancyWomenGalway
On Saturday 26 September, Galway Cycling Campaign will host a virtual Pedal Parade. This is a call to people of all ages and abilities who cycle a wide range of bicycles to be visible on our streets, city, towns and in society. Post videos on social media of videos and photos and tag @GalwayCycling plus #PedalParadeGalway.
There will be prizes for creative participation of bike racks, baskets, panniers and high quality bike lights and bells.
Galway Cycling Campaign is a voluntary group which represents cyclists in Galway. We promote cycling as a common and accessible form of transport with the goal of creating a more liveable Galway for everyone.
