Schools urged to choose pedal power

Transport Minister Conor Murphy today urged schoolchildren across the north to cycle to school on ‘Bike to School Day,’ Wednesday 16 June.

The initiative is part of a two week programme of cycling events developed and promoted by Travelwise NI – ‘Two Wheels:Two Weeks’, which runs from 13- 27 June.  

To mark the occasion, the Minister cycled to St Matthew’s Primary School in Belfast, along with Aileen Gault, Head of Travelwise NI and Steven Patterson, Regional Director of Sustrans.  Over 50 pupils, parents and teachers cycled to St Matthew’s on Wednesday morning, celebrating with a ‘Bikers Breakfast’ organised by Sustrans, and also benefiting from a visit to the school by Bike Dock mechanics, who helped fix up pupils’ bikes.  St Matthew’s is one of fourteen schools across the north which will provide a free, healthy breakfast to those pupils cycling to school on specific days.

Transport Minister Conor Murphy welcomed the Bike to School Week initiatives as an important way of promoting sustainable transport options to school children. This programme of Bike to School events, supported by Travelwise NI and delivered by Sustrans, is a great way to encourage children to travel to school on their bikes.   There are so many benefits to cycling – it helps children to keep fit and healthy, it prevents further traffic on our roads and it’s also great fun.  

"I am a keen cyclist myself and know that proper cycling training and support as a child means that people can take advantage of this wonderful skill over their entire lifetime.  I would encourage as many children as possible to get on their bikes during ‘Two Wheels:Two Weeks’, and would also invite parents to join them.  Cycling is growing in popularity and it’s initiatives like these which can help to ensure that more and more people opt for the bike instead of the car.”

Sustrans Project Leader Jill Smyth welcomed the success of the Bike It project at St Matthews and congratulated the entire school community saying "Pupils here have enthusiastically embraced the challenges of bringing about a whole new cycle culture at the school. The success is demonstrated by the large numbers of pupils who cycled to school today."

A number of schools and councils across the country have organised their own cycling initiatives over the two weeks, such as Newtownabbey Council and Derry City Council.  Other key events on the ‘Two Wheels:Two Weeks’ calendar include Bike to Work Day on 18 June, ‘Cycle Chic’ on 24 June and the Cooperation Ireland Maracycle between Belfast and Dublin on 26 and 27 June.  For a full calendar of events visit www.travelwiseni.com

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Notes to editors:

1. Travelwise NI is a DRD Initiative to encourage the use of sustainable transport options such as walking, cycling, public transport or car sharing.
2. Events this year incorporate Ireland’s National Bike Week (13-20 June) and Team GB Bike Week (19-27 June).