There is a way local businesses and organisations can beat the traffic congestion in Galway city and get to and from places quicker and more efficiently - on a bike.
This is the view of the Galway City Council’s Galway Transportation Unit, which is encouraging businesses in the city to replicate the council’s own staff cycle scheme.
The council has four bicycles available for staff use during the course of their work. Staff sign for the bicycles as needed to undertake survey work, site visits, to meet with customers, or conduct community warden work.
A Galway Transportation Unit spokesperson said the level of interest in the scheme is “significantly greater than anticipated” with staff “eager to cycle rather than drive because it’s quicker”.
One City Hall staff member who avails of one of the council’s bikes is heritage officer Jim Higgins.
“I am quicker on the bicycle than by car, especially around the centre of the city, where I have to undertake site visits very frequently,” he said.
“In the coming months, the council will be commencing a bio-diversity plan of Merlin Park Woods and I will definitely be using the bicycle a lot as part of this project as it will only take me about 15 minutes to get there from City Hall.”
All a company needs to start a similar scheme is bicycles, reflector belts, bicycle locks, cycle helmets, and a bicycle storage area. The GTU is encouraging Galway businesses and organisations to adopt such a scheme for their staff.
For more information contact the Galway Transportation Unit on 091 - 894328 or email [email protected]
