Web News Details
21/06/2012
Kennedy announces Bike to School Day
Transport Minister Danny Kennedy welcomed a representative from the Cycling Embassy of Denmark to Northern Ireland today as he launched Bike to School Day in Belfast.
To support Bike to School Day 2012 the Minister, Ms Mai Britt Kristensen of the Cycling Embassy of Denmark and her senior officials visited Lisnasharragh Primary School in east Belfast. Danny Kennedy said: “Bike to School Day is an important way of promoting sustainable transport options to school children. It encourages children to travel to school on their bikes and enjoy the health and fitness benefits of cycling.
"Twenty per cent of traffic on our roads during peak hours is caused by the school run and by riding a bike to school we can help alleviate traffic congestion. On top of the financial and health benefits, cycling helps the environment by lowering fuel emissions and easing congestion."
Danny Kennedy congratulated the school principal on the large numbers of pupils who cycled to Lisnasharragh Primary school and said: “I hope young people will give serious consideration to cycling to and from school more often.”
The Minister welcomed Ms Kristensen and her team to Belfast. “I welcome the Cycling Embassy of Denmark to Northern Ireland to share cycling knowledge, along with senior officials from CTC, the UK’s largest cycling charity and Cyclist.ie the Republic of Ireland’s National Cycling Lobby Group.
“The Danes are a great nation of cycling ambassadors and we can learn from their approach to sustainable travel. This visit is extremely timely during Bike Week 2012 and I hope those listening to the cycling experts today have been further inspired and motivated to spread the word about the benefits of cycling and make an effort to use their bikes more often, especially for shorter journeys.”
The Minister also congratulated local cycling groups including Sustrans for their sustained efforts in working with schools, teachers, pupils and parents to encourage children to get to school independently.
After visiting the school, Ms Kristensen, along with Mr Roger Geffen of CTC and Dr Mike McKillen of Cyclist.ie, attended a public cycling conference at Belfast City Hall with presentations on safe cycling and the successful promotion of cycling. Earlier in the day the group met with the DRD Committee at Stormont and delivered a presentation entitled “The Danish Experience - What’s in it for us?” This was followed by a question and answer session on cycling policy in Denmark, the UK and Ireland.
Ms Kristensen said: “I am delighted to be here to promote cycling during Travelwise NI’s Bike Week 2012. We aim to communicate cycling solutions and know-how across the world, and as such our aims are closely aligned with DRD Travelwise NI which is tasked with promoting cycling to schoolchildren, employers and commuters. Danish people ride their bikes a lot – in fact one in four trips shorter than five kilometers are made by bike. In cities such as Copenhagen and Odense, cycling is the most common means of transport for people going to work or educational institutions.
“We recognise that riding a bike is a choice. If you want more people to become cyclists, you must make it attractive to ride a bike. Make it safe, easy, fun, and economically attractive. The Danes cycle because it is practical, easy, and makes their everyday lives work. I would encourage more people in Northern Ireland to get on their bikes and enjoy all the benefits of cycling, and help to improve the local environment at the same time," she said.
Notes to editors:
To support Bike to School Day 2012 the Minister, Ms Mai Britt Kristensen of the Cycling Embassy of Denmark and her senior officials visited Lisnasharragh Primary School in east Belfast. Danny Kennedy said: “Bike to School Day is an important way of promoting sustainable transport options to school children. It encourages children to travel to school on their bikes and enjoy the health and fitness benefits of cycling.
"Twenty per cent of traffic on our roads during peak hours is caused by the school run and by riding a bike to school we can help alleviate traffic congestion. On top of the financial and health benefits, cycling helps the environment by lowering fuel emissions and easing congestion."
Danny Kennedy congratulated the school principal on the large numbers of pupils who cycled to Lisnasharragh Primary school and said: “I hope young people will give serious consideration to cycling to and from school more often.”
The Minister welcomed Ms Kristensen and her team to Belfast. “I welcome the Cycling Embassy of Denmark to Northern Ireland to share cycling knowledge, along with senior officials from CTC, the UK’s largest cycling charity and Cyclist.ie the Republic of Ireland’s National Cycling Lobby Group.
“The Danes are a great nation of cycling ambassadors and we can learn from their approach to sustainable travel. This visit is extremely timely during Bike Week 2012 and I hope those listening to the cycling experts today have been further inspired and motivated to spread the word about the benefits of cycling and make an effort to use their bikes more often, especially for shorter journeys.”
The Minister also congratulated local cycling groups including Sustrans for their sustained efforts in working with schools, teachers, pupils and parents to encourage children to get to school independently.
After visiting the school, Ms Kristensen, along with Mr Roger Geffen of CTC and Dr Mike McKillen of Cyclist.ie, attended a public cycling conference at Belfast City Hall with presentations on safe cycling and the successful promotion of cycling. Earlier in the day the group met with the DRD Committee at Stormont and delivered a presentation entitled “The Danish Experience - What’s in it for us?” This was followed by a question and answer session on cycling policy in Denmark, the UK and Ireland.
Ms Kristensen said: “I am delighted to be here to promote cycling during Travelwise NI’s Bike Week 2012. We aim to communicate cycling solutions and know-how across the world, and as such our aims are closely aligned with DRD Travelwise NI which is tasked with promoting cycling to schoolchildren, employers and commuters. Danish people ride their bikes a lot – in fact one in four trips shorter than five kilometers are made by bike. In cities such as Copenhagen and Odense, cycling is the most common means of transport for people going to work or educational institutions.
“We recognise that riding a bike is a choice. If you want more people to become cyclists, you must make it attractive to ride a bike. Make it safe, easy, fun, and economically attractive. The Danes cycle because it is practical, easy, and makes their everyday lives work. I would encourage more people in Northern Ireland to get on their bikes and enjoy all the benefits of cycling, and help to improve the local environment at the same time," she said.
Notes to editors:
- DRD Travelwise NI’s programme of cycling activity runs alongside similar Bike Week initiatives in the UK and Republic of Ireland from 16-24 June. Over half a million people are expected to take part in cycling events across the UK and Ireland during this period.
- The Cycling Embassy of Denmark is a comprehensive network of private companies, local authorities and non-governmental organizations working together to promote cycling and communicate cycling solutions and know-how. Their mission is to encourage cycling all over the world.
- Media queries to: DRD Press Office on 02890 540817. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.
- For further information on cycling activities during Bike Week across Northern Ireland contact Lauren McCoy/Michelle Black at Morrow Communications on 028 9039 3837 or email l.mccoy@morrowcommunications.com / m.black@morrowcommunications.com
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