If you ride your bike twice in one day, is that called recycling?
Bike Week Is Back for 2023
After a very successful Bike Week 2022 in County Westmeath, the week-long celebration of all things cycling takes place again this year, between Saturday May 13 and Sunday May 21.
Schools, clubs, community groups and organisations, as well as local businesses, are invited to apply for funding to organize their own FREE Bike Week event during Bike Week 2023.
Types of Events We Are Looking For
The exact type of event is up to each applicant, however, applications that focus on the following event criteria will be prioritised:
***The event MUST take place during 13th to 21st of May 2023.***
***The Event must be FREE to take part in.***
***Fun Cycles (5k, 10k 30k etc)***
***Recreational/Leisure Cycling events focusing on including non-club members, the lapsed cyclist, families, beginners etc.***
***Slow Bike Races, Cycling Obstacle Courses, Nature Cycles, Cycle to School Days, Lunch Time Cycles, Cycling Games and Activities, Cycle To Work.***
***Focus on inclusion, non-competitive, community focus, family, local school participation.***
Available Funding and Application forms
Funding is available to support events taking place in three different settings and the application form for each strand is available below. The process will take around seven minutes and the closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm, Monday April 3.
A maximum of €500 is available for events which will be organized and supported by communities or in public spaces.
You can find out more on how to apply as a Community Club, Groups or Organisation below:
Funding-Criteria-and-Application-details-for-Clubs-Community-Groups-Organisations-2023
A maximum of €300 is available for events or training which will be organized and supported by schools.
You can find out more on how to apply as a school below:
Funding-Criteria-and-Application-details-for-Schools-2023
A maximum of €200 is available or events which will be organized and supported by employers or businesses.
You can find out more on how to apply business or employer below:
Funding-Criteria-and-Application-details-for-Employers-2023
Looking for some inspiration…
We enjoyed supporting lots of fun events last year encouraging people of all ages to get back on their bikes during Bike Week. A selected list is available here
Below is just a sample of some of the events that maybe you would like to see take place in your community or organisation this year :
Willowbrook Residents Association – The group used Bike Week to promote community spirit and harmony within their area and encouraged greater use of nearby greenways and cycle tracks along the
canal. They also engaged with local Gardaí by inviting their community Gardaí to talk to their children about safety on the road, and to join us on a cycle. Their Bike Week also concluded with a Residents’ Tea Party.
St. Brigid’s School – Students and staff enjoyed a week-long schedule of events including a session of group cycling on the Greenway in partnership with local community Gardaí. They also developed a cycling obstacle course on school grounds and encouraged a special ‘Staff Cycle to School’ day. There was also great fun as part of the ‘Staff Cycle for your breakfast’ on exercise bikes. Other events promoted included an introduction to tricycles, scooters, balance bikes to foster and promote further and maximum inclusion of all members of the school community in cycling activities.
Ballinahown Development Association – A special Bike Repair Workshop was operated for people who may have had bikes not in perfect working condition. It was hoped that many could be retained after their repairs or donated to families recently arrived from the Ukraine in their local
community. A number of bike racks were also purchased for the village.
Lakeside Wheelers – The club re-introduced people who perhaps had not cycled in a long time back to the pastime/sport of cycling. A beginners group was established and led by an experienced group of
leaders which took participants out on safe areas on which to cycle such as the Greenway.
Other ideas that might be considered include:
***A cycling event such as a slow bicycle race, a family cycle or a local cycling tour***
***Meet N’ Spin***
***Tandem bike rides for visually impaired.***
***A school cycling event on a specific day to encourage children to bring their bikes for a organised cycle trip.***
***Design a helmet or arts and crafts to decorate your bicycle.***
***Refreshments for an event.***
***Learn to cycle programmes (for adults and children)***
***Cycling workshops***
***Electric Bike Workshops***
***Cycle to Work***
***Mystery/History/Scenic Tours of area***
***Bike orienteering***
***Women Only events***
***Bikes available to try, electric bikes, cargo bikes, tandem, folding, trailers, child carriers etc.***
More Information
National Bike Week was first established in 2009 and we hope to see even more people getting back on two (or three) wheels and enjoying cycling with a variety of events and activities across Co. Westmeath this year.
For information on events happening nationwide log onto www.bikeweek.ie and if you want to get in touch with the Westmeath Sports partnership, drop us an email at info@westmeathsports.ie.
