Travelwise NI Bike Week once again grabbed the attention of commuters and others in NI sometimes with the assistance of the weather and sometimes despite the weather. The NI cycling public again demonstrated that cycling can be a fun and inexpensive mode of travel even when the sun is not shining.

DRD Minister Conor Murphy showed his support for cycling by launching Bike Week with the assistance of Olympic medallist Wendy Houvenhagl in Belfast.

Wendy also made her way to Carnmoney to meet some of the schools pupils and to show them her silver medal. If the Carnmoney PS pupils are not inspired to try their luck at competitive cycling then perhaps they will be inspired to continue cycling as they move on to secondary education and the workplace.

On Monday 15 June the Travelwise Team took their bicycles to Parliament Buildings to enlist the support of MLAs for Bike Week. The Team was delighted by the response from MLAs from all parties who were encouraged by the sunshine to get together outside Parliament Buildings. Many joined the Team to show their support or to get their photograph taken with Andy Bready. Other MLAs were only too keen to show their skills on two wheels. Conor Murphy was foremost among those trying a few tricks as were Catriona Ruane Simon Hamilton and Danny Kennedy although everyone was upstaged by the wheelies from Ian Paisley Jr.

When it came to serious cycling the MLA Bike Race was easily won by Roy Beggs Jr who had put his cycling credibility on the line by arriving with his own bike. However he then proceeded to show a turn of speed which would probably have impressed Wendy Houvenhagl.

Travelwise is grateful to all the elected representatives who participated at Stormont and at other venues across Northern Ireland during Bike Week.Their ongoing support for cycling will no doubt have a significant impact on the Teams efforts to promote cycling.

On Wednesday June 15 the Travelwise Team hosted a Bike to Work Day breakfast at Clarence Court following a rendezvous of bikers at the NCN route adjacent to the Gasworks. DRD Minister Conor Murphy showed that he is a cyclist for all weathers as he joined Travelwise and colleagues from Roads Service and other parts of DRD as well as cyclists from other Departments, from Belfast City Council, from the Health Service and from the private sector at the Gasworks. Many of the group had cycled from various parts of Belfast and some real cyclists who regularly commute from as far away as Hillsborough, Lisburn etc mixed happily with fair weather cyclists who turned out for their annual spin. Roads Hydebank staff as usual showed their support joining the group at the Gasworks and tucking into some healthy nourishment before leaving to cycle out to Hydebank to put in their days work.

If you need any additional information or you wish to speak to the Travelwise NI Bike Week Co-ordinator, please contact:

Andy Bready      Phone (028) 9054 0595

                             E-mail  andy.bready@drdni.gov.uk