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 delighted to co-host a special edition of our CycleCoffeeCake events with Galway Community Pride in Galway city centre this Sunday morning, 16 August.
Bi-Cycle Pride & Coffee / Bi-Cycle agus Caife is a special co-hosted event between Galway Cycling Campaign and Galway Community Pride for the 2020 festival.
** EVENT DETAILS ** Sunday 16 August 2020 10.30am – 12.30pm Meet: Raven Terrace, Galway’s Westend, from 10am Depart: 10.30am sharp Route: Galway’s city centre Coffee & Cake: At Raven Terrace from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
People are asked to gather at Raven Terrace from 10am for a prompt 10.30am departure. The route will be at a gentle pace throughout the city and arrive back at Raven Terrace about 11.30am for coffee and cake at a local café.
The Bi-Cycle and Coffee event is supported by Cllr Owen Hanley, Cllr Níall McNelis, and Simon Heaslip and Galway’s Westend Traders Association.
Co-organiser Martina Callanan encourages people to dress up.
“Wear your rainbow colours, paint your faces, and bling out your bike. CycleCoffeeCake events have been a huge success this summer with a diversity of cyclers of all ages and abilities. We are delighted to Bi-cycle with Pride.”
Cllr Owen Hanley, co-organiser, says that in normal times, the Sunday morning event of Galway Community Pride is an open house at Teach Solais for people to gather for chats and cups of tea.
“This year is different, and with so many people back on bikes, Bi-Cycle & Coffee is the perfect way to come together for a fun and socially distant event.”
The regular CycleCoffeeCake events have been enormously popular since the lifting of lockdown. They have explored different parts of the city including Blackrock, Salthill, the city centre, Renmore to Roscam, showing novice cyclers and those who hopped back on the saddle quiet routes through neighbourhoods and creating opportunities for adults to nurture cycling confidence.
Join us this Saturday 18 July 2020 for CycleCoffeeCake at 10.30am from Nimmo’s Pier through our vibrant city centre and ending at the wonderful Ciarlantini of Woodquay. This is a gentle inclusive cycle for new or nearly-new adults on bikes. All ages and abilities are welcome. We particularly welcome mams who want some confidence before cycling with their children to school in September. Please register – we have limited numbers and need details for contact tracing.
Our first CycleCoffeeCake explored Salthill and the Prom. Kevin Nugent of Ground & Co Salthill sponsored coffee and cake for a vibrant and diverse group of new, nearly-new and returning cyclers.
CycleCoffeeCake is a new initiative of the Galway Cycling Campaign and aims to encourage new, nearly-new, and returning cyclers to hop on their saddles and join together in gentle, inclusive cycles around Galway city.
The event particularly welcomes women on bikes, especially mums who want to get more confident cycling around the city before the school year begins, and women of all ages and abilities who are returning to cycling. The bike boom of 2020 is a result of these two groups buying bikes in Galway, and indeed across Ireland.
Galway Cycling Campaign hopes to encourage those who want to become more comfortable cycling and those who would enjoy some support as they gain confidence in cycling around the city.
Please register for this Saturday’s event for contract tracing purposes. Numbers are limited. People who arrive on the day without signing-up will not be accommodated.
Event details
Saturday 18 July 2020 10.30am – 12 noon Meet: Claddagh Hall, Nimmo’s Pier Route: Galway city centre routes, detours, things to watch out for, and bike parking spots Coffee & Cake: Cafe Bar Ciarlantini, Woodquay
The inaugural CycleCoffeeCake event took place last month and the sounds of chats and bell chimes was heard as the group cycled from the Claddagh Hall to Blackrock before enjoying coffee and cake sponsored by Kevin Nugent and Ground & Co in Salthill.
CycleCoffeeCake sponsor: Bar Italia Ciarlantini of Woodquay
This month, CycleCoffeeCake will again start at 10.30am at the Claddagh Hall and explore routes around the city centre, show useful detours away from major routes, and point out bike parking. The social cycle will end in Woodquay at Bar Italia Ciarlantini.
Lolita of Ciarlantini will sponsor coffee and cake for the first 15 registrations.
Lolita of Bar Italia Ciarlantini in Woodquay is sponsoring CycleCoffeeCake July edition.
Martina Callanan, spokesperson for Galway Cycling Campaign, said, “Cycling is an easy, fun activity for people of all ages and abilities. We want to show newbies and novices safe and pleasant bike trails across the city that end at local cafés where we can enjoy coffee, cake and chats.”
“As we kickstart the economy, we want to support our friends and neighbours who own local businesses, especially those that have safe and secure bicycle parking nearby,” she added.
Kevin Jennings, chairperson of the Galway Cycling Campaign, commented, “As we look ahead to schools reopening in a few weeks, we want to help parents, particularly mams, feel more comfortable cycling their kids to school, especially if they do not have a local Cycle Bus. CycleCoffeeCake is a great way for adults to meet with others who feel the same way and to share tips from more experienced people on bikes.”
As the route will be on roads shared with buses, vans and cars in the city centre, numbers will be limited and only those who have registered in advance will be able to participate.
Keep an eye on our social media @GalwayCycling on Twitter and Facebook.
Delicious coffee and cake awaits us at Bar Italia Ciarlantini, Woodquay
The second CycleCoffeeCake social cycle for women and novices on bikes will take place this Saturday morning, 27 June 2020. Please join us, especially if you or someone you know is new to cycling or has hopped back on the saddle since lockdown.
Register here for CycleCoffeeCake #2 event hosted by Galway Cycling Campaign. This is a gentle, inclusive cycle for adults new to cycling or who would like some support to become more confident cycling everyday around Galway. All ages and abilities are welcome.
We particularly want to support women as Covid-19 research shows that there has been a surge in women cycling and women are the biggest group of new-bike buyers.
Event details
Saturday, 27 June 2020 10.30 am – 12 noon Start: Claddagh Hall, Nimmo’s PierRoute: Grattan Road, city centre and canals Destination: Woodquay
Sponsor: Bar Italia Ciarlantini
Grazie to Bar Italia Ciarlantini, Woodquay, for sponsoring this second edition of #CycleCoffeeCake
And a very special Happy 4th Birthday to Lolita and all the staff at Ciarlantini. Congratulazioni! Thank you for creating a little piece of Italy in Galway.
Bar Italia Ciarlantini – a little piece of Italy in bustling Woodquay, Galway
Galway Cycling Campaign warmly welcomes the report in the Irish Times that the deal for the Programme for Government will include €360m for cycling and walking. This will be allocated each year before the proposed future investment split of 2:1 in favour of public transport over roads. This is a smart deal for transport, public health, and supporting the local economy.
The volunteer group for everyday cycling has campaigned for years for 10% of the land transport budget to be allocated to cycling.
In 2019, it was estimated that less than 2% from the land transport budget was spent on everyday cycling, according to the 2020 budget submission by Cyclist.ie – the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network.
Chairperson of Galway Cycling Campaign Kevin Jennings emphasised the significance of the increase of funding from 2% to 10% for cycling.
A commitment of 10% for cycling in the land transport budget could help change transport in Ireland. The new government radio ads asking us to cycle and walk where possible are a first that I can recall. My kids are asked to cycle to camógaí training.
Investment in cycling is investment in public health. Better infrastructure will encourage more people to cycle during coronavirus, and enable the years of social distancing we must do until a Covid-19 vaccine is available.
Children and families cycling in Galway city
The chairperson also added that cycling is good for local business.
Cycling is good for business. Customers by bike are local and loyal. Research in London and Europe shows that bike parking outside your business brings five times the retail spend as the same space allocated to a car.
Customers by bike are good for business – Source: Transport for London (TfL) 2013
The first CycleCoffeeCake event organised by Galway Cycling Campaign ended at Ground & Co in Salthill. The local business was delighted to sponsor this event to support new people cycling as they’ve seen a massive jump in customers arriving by bike.
Participants at the first CycleCoffeeCake event by Galway Cycling Campaign enjoying coffee and cake sponsored by Ground & Co Salthill
Martina Callanan, spokesperson for the Galway Cycling Campaign, pointed out that EU research clearly shows that the economic and social benefits of cycling and walking.
According to EU research, each 1 km drive costs the public purse €0.11 in terms of travel time, collisions, and pollution, while at the same time each 1 km cycle or walk brings health, environmental and quality of life benefits of €0.18 & €0.37 / km respectively.
She added that the the group are keen to confirm the annual percentage budget for cycling and walking.
It looks like the Programme for Government will commit 20% of the land transport budget to cycling and walking, as 20% of 2020 land transport budget is €360m.
We expect 10% to be clearly allocated to cycling as this 10% allocation is endorsed by the UN, Citizens’ Assembly, the Dáil, Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action and the government’s Climate Plan.
The UN Environment Programme advocates spending 10% of land transport budgets on everyday cycling infrastructure and facilities.
Kevin Jennings added that the expectation is that cycling funding will be spent on quality infrastructure for all ages and abilities in Galway city and county so that we can grow cycling to levels common in places like Ghent, Seville and Leeds.
We also need to support more women to cycle. The boom in bike sales is due to more women buying bicycles. Before coronavirus, only 27% of cycling commuters are female, according to 2016 Census data.
Women typically have complex cycle routes involving trips to school, childcare, GP, local shops, public services like libraries, as well as to work. Safe and segregated cycle paths in networks that start from your residential area are necessary to support more women – and families – on bikes.”
Research shows that women tend to benefit more from higher cycling levels – from the European Cyclists’ Federation
Galway Cycling Campaign looks forward to examining the full published Programme for Government. More detailed comments will follow.
Who we are
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.
