The Galway Bike Festival 2011, as part of National Bike Week was launched in Eyre Square, Galway last week by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar. Now in its third year, the Galway Bike Festival promotes cycling for everyone, aims to increase the number of cyclists in Galway and supports a dynamic cycling culture in the city and county.
Minister Varadkar praised the joint approach of Galway City and County Councils in developing the Galway Bike Festival, and he thanked the city for hosting the national opening event for Bike Week 2011, which runs this year from June 18 to 26.
“It’s no accident that Galway, with its track record in hosting festivals and events, was chosen to kick off our Bike Week celebrations,” Minister Varadkar said.
“Cycling is a key priority right across my Department, which now encompasses transport, tourism and sport. Cycling meets a wide range of goals: it’s a sustainable, healthy and low-carbon means of travel; it fosters more welcoming and people-orientated destinations for visitors; and it promotes engagement in sport.
“Bike Week ticks all of these boxes, but it’s a perfect match for Galway, a premium tourism destination which provides superb backdrops, both city and rural, against which to showcase all that cycling has to offer.
“And what cycling offers is a healthy, low-cost, environmentally-friendly and fun way to make those shorter journeys.”
Speaking at the launch, Joe Tansey, Head of Galway Transportation Unit, Galway City Council commented, “We are delighted that the opening event of National Bike Week 2011 is taking place in Eyre Square, Galway. Working with our numerous support partners, we have worked to maximise the opportunities stemming from this National event to showcase Galway as the future cycling capital of Ireland and to build and develop Galway Bike Festival as a cycling event in its own right”
Joe added, “Galway is a perfect cycling city, with over 50 per cent of the population living under 4km from their place of work or education. We in Galway City Council in partnership with our colleagues in Galway County Council have created a broad partnership to promote cycling with local stakeholders including, statutory bodies, educational institutions, sports organisations, community and voluntary groups, cycling businesses, cycling support groups and the media.”
He continued “We are delighted to announce that Galway Bay FM and the Galway Advertiser will be our media partners for the Galway Bike Festival and look forward to working with them to make 2011 the biggest cycling event in Galway yet.”
The National Opening Event in Eyre Square promises a day of festivities including a bicycle village here in Eyre Square, live music, street and children's entertainment and a mass cycle to Salthill. Another unique offering will be the World Class Mall Demonstration. For the first time in Ireland, professional bike riders will demonstrate their skills by jumping on bikes down escalators and stairwells within the Eyre Square Centre Mallscape. Reflecting the support of the business sector to the festival, a shop front window competition on the theme of cycling will be on display during the week. The festival also includes a number of family cycles for children such as the Jarlath McInerney Criterium and the treasure hunt, both of which have already proven to be very popular events. For the more experienced cyclist the familiarisation cycle on the Ironman route is a very welcome addition to this festival which aims to deliver benefits in the inter-linked realms of sustainable transport, sport, tourism, health and the environment.
The full programme which includes more than 30 events and initiatives can be viewed or downloaded from the home page of Galway City Council www.galwaycity.ie
