Bike Week wheels into Ards & North Down Borough

Bike Week is due to wheel into Ards and North Down after I managed to secure Council support to organise a series of events to encourage cycling.

I brought the motion after previously securing Council support in previous years to celebrate Bike Week which will occur 11 – 19 June 2016. Bike Week 2016 theme is focused upon Cycling to Work

With Brian and Mary before setting off
on Piccolo Fondo Cycle Ride in 2015

As a Honorary Member of North Down Cycling Club and Sustrans Volunteer Ranger, I am delighted to have secured unanimous support of the relevant Council Committee to embrace Bike Week via organising a series of events. Cycling is good both for your body, mind and the environment whilst also a quick and cheap way to get from A to B.

As part of Cycle Ride from Kinnegar to Belfast

Events previously organised by Council during Bike Week when I proposed a similar motion involved encouraging employees to cycle to work, novice cycling lessons, bike repair training, short rides and outdoor mass spin lessons. I hope Council can bring forward suitable range of events which link together with Northern Ireland wide initiatives and bring Council to the forefront of promoting health, wellbeing and sustainable travel.

Leading Piccolo Fondo Cycle Ride at
Titanic Quarter with Mary Lappin

Motion passed at Community and Wellbeing Committee on 13 April 2016 and ratified at full Council on 27 April 2016: “That this Council requests Officers to organise a small series of events coinciding with Bike Week in June 2016 in partnership with relevant organisations, in order to promote cycling and the social health and environmental benefits of such.”