Cycling “Flash Mob” Launch Bike To Work Day 2012
Dublin workers invited to take part in a free, fun event
Dublin’s hottest DJ duo Claire Solan and Aidan Power led a Cycling Flash Mob of over 30 cyclists around Grand Canal Square to officially launch the second annual Bike to Work Day lunchtime cycle. Following on from the hugely successful event last year, which saw over 1,250 people take part, the Dublin City Council initiative, which is running as part of National Bike Week, is inviting everyone working in and around Dublin city centre to take part in the fun, free, leisurely lunchtime cycle which takes place at 1pm sharp on Wednesday 20th June (www.dublincitycycling.ie).
Cyclists, dublinbikes users and anyone interested can take part by simply registering for the event at www.dublincitycycling.ie. With the first 500 people to register getting goodie bags brimming full of treats and everyone registering for the event put into a draw to win an Apple iPad3, registrations are expected to reach the 500 mark rapidly.
To add to the fun, Bike to Work lunchtime cycle participants can dress up and be in with a chance to win some amazing prizes for ‘Best Dressed Male/Female cyclist and Best Dressed Bike’, ‘Best Company Team/Group’, so there is something for everyone!
More and more people are choosing to travel by bike into the city, with numbers increasing by one third in the last ten years. Dublin City Council has prioritised cycling and is keen to encourage more people to get on their bikes. The Bike to Work day lunchtime cycle aims to encourage all employers and employees throughout the city to take part in this year’s event.
Speaking at the launch, Eoghan Madden, Senior Engineer, Dublin City Council said; ‘Dubliners are increasingly choosing cycling as their preferred method of transport to get to and from work because it’s fast, convenient and free. We are delighted to launch the Bike to Work day 2012 lunchtime cycle and hope we get the biggest turnout yet to further position Dublin as the true “Cycling City” it has grown a reputation for. We encourage everyone working within Dublin on June 20th with access to a bike, employers and employees alike to experience the city and take part in this free event.”
The annual Dublin Bike to Work initiative (developed by The Department of Transport as part of National Bike Week), aims to encourage people to adopt cycling as their preferred method of transport; highlighting the benefits including: a healthy stress free transport option; cost-efficient; environmentally friendly; and ultimately, a fun way to travel across the city.
The leisurely 6km 30 minute cycle starts from Grand Canal Square in Dublin Docklands at 1pm sharp before setting off through the streets of Dublin, taking in a new route this year to pass some of the most impressive city landmarks. The route will take in the Samuel Beckett Bridge, City Quay, College Green, Merrion Square, The Pepper Canister Church and part of the Premium Cycle Route along the Grand Canal. The leisurely lunchtime cycle concludes at Grand Canal Square, with market stalls for participants to a grab tasty lunch and lots entertainment before returning to work. A route map can be seen at www.dublincitycycling.ie.
Cycling facts:
• Cycling to work, school or the shops is an easy way to get your recommended 30 minutes per day of physical exercise.
• Using a bike instead of a bus or light rail for commuting to work can save you around €1,000 on an annual commuter ticket in Dublin.
• Over 3 million journeys were taken on dublinbikes since its launch in September 2009 making it one of the world’s most successful public bike hire schemes.
• Dublin city has approx 150km of cycle lanes, 50 km of bus lanes which cyclists can use and 25km of off-road cycle tracks – see www.dublincitycycling for maps
• … Believe it or not, you have only a one in nine chance of getting wet if you cycle or walk to work during the evening or morning rush hour. Your chances of getting wet twice in the same day, at these times, are one in a hundred!
There are numerous ways to keep in contact with the event for all the latest updates. Become a Facebook fan of Bike to Work Day – www.facebook.com/dublinbiketowork, join our LinkedIn group: Dublin City Cycling or follow us on Twitter at Bike_ToWork_Day (#bikeDub) and keep up to date for all the latest event news items.
Dublin’s 98FM are media partners for Bike to Work event for the second year.
Bike to Work Day’s Lunchtime Cycle is part of National Bike Week which runs from 16th – 24th June 2012. Visit www.bikeweek.ie for information on other cycling events.
