European Mobility Week runs from Monday September 15 to Monday September 22 and Westport Smarter Travel has put together a fun filled programme of events to celebrate.
Westport Walks/Wheels Weekdays returns on Monday September 15 where the people of Westport are encouraged to re-consider how they travel and if possible to consider leaving the car at home or in a Park n’ Stride location and to walk or cycle to town instead. Choosing Smarter Travel modes of transport such as walking, cycling, car-pooling, and public transport is not just beneficial for the town by reducing congestion but also to the town’s health, environment, and people’s pockets.
On Thursday September 18 the Human Powered Cinema is coming to town. The event which gets under way at 6.30pm in Scoil Phadraig takes six bikes and 12 legs and lots of fun to power the projector and audio system for a screening of the classic movie ET. The bikes are hooked up to a generator and the audience will power the performance, the night promises to be entertaining and healthy for all the audience, no matter what level of fitness.
To link in with Culture Night Westport Smarter Travel will host a Culture Night Bike Buffet on Friday September 19. The event will kick off at 6pm at the Westport Coast Hotel, participants will be given a Mocktail and asked to carry on to the Custom House Gallery where they can join in and make a print while listening to live music by the Clew Bay Pipe Band and the children’s choir. From there they will cycle on to Gracy’s for some delicious pizza before they head up to Westport House for a guided tour. Once they have explored the house they will hop back on the bikes and cycle up Church Lane and on to The Clew Bay Hotel for dessert. All this for only €10. And to top it off the launch of Cycling Memories, the Movie, a collection of cycling stories from local Westport people, will take place in the Clew Bay Hotel at 9pm on Friday 19. To book a place on the Culture Night Bike Buffet call into Westport Leisure Park or call 098 29160. The launch of Cycling Memories, the Movie is free and open to the public.
Other events that will take place during the week include community walks, cycle skills training for adults, the official opening of 12 secure bike lockers around town and Park(ing ) Day. Sir Walk-A-Lot will be out and about during the week too and will visit the pupils who are walking and cycling to school during the week.
European Mobility Week culminates on Monday September 22 with European ‘In Town without my Car’ Day. Towns and cities around Europe will be choosing to be car free for the day and the public will help Westport join in by choosing to leave cars at home or in a Park n’ Stride location for the day. Monday September 22 will also see the beginning of the search for Westport’s Smartest Travel Community Group. For more information see www.westportsmartertravel.ie or join it on Facebook.
