SDCC hosting local events for National Bike Week 2017

By Aura McMenamin

South Dublin County Council is celebrating National Bike Week, which runs from June 10-18, by hosting several events across the county, including a cycle skills training course for adults in Tymon Park on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening.

Other events include free bicycle maintenance checks and a lunchtime cycle for all from the county offices to Tymon Park, also on Wednesday.

According to research released ahead of bike week, more than half of adults in Ireland (53 per cent) own a bicycle but just one in 10 cycle three or more times a day. Almost half of adults (40 per cent) have never cycled.

With this in mind, the cycle skills workshop taking place today, tomorrow and on Thursday evening in Tymon Park will aim to help those who have forgotten the basics of cycling and road safety.

Speaking with Echo.ie today, events co-ordinator Sheila Kelly said: “This course will be mostly for people that don’t cycle much or are wary of traffic and weather but want to get into it again.

“There’ll be lessons on equipment, rules of the road, how to stop safely and how to manoeuvre traffic.”

For anyone who might be putting off getting their tyres pumped or brakes checked, the Cycle Clinic will be offering free maintenance checks at Tallaght Library square on Wednesday and Thursday from 10 am to 4pm.

Bike Week is seeking to encourage youngsters to take up cycling. To get kids pumped about cycling to school, SDCC will be visiting local children with goodie bags full of bike equipment.

Families can also enjoy a cycle together in Tymon Park on Sunday. The route will begin at 2:30 at St. Jude’s GAA club and continue through the park.

For a full list of events, you can visit bikeweek.ie. To book a place on the cycling skills workshop, you can contact Sheila Kelly at Tel: 4149000 Ext 3201 or email: skelly@sdublincoco.ie for an application form.