Since its first route began operating in March 2022, the Sandymount Cycle Bus has been going from strength to strength. A cycle bus is a group of children and adults cycling together along a designated route according to a set timetable. The adults form a mobile cycle lane around the children, meaning that they are able to cycle safely to school even where no safe cycling infrastructure is in place. The first route was followed in May 2022 by a second route that approached Sandymount from the opposite direction. The Cycle Bus celebrated its first birthday by organising a Bike Week Community Fun Cycle through Sandymount on the 21st May.
Although students from four local primary schools had taken part in the cycle bus during its first year, the majority were from Shellybanks Educate Together NS. However, on the 29th May this year both routes were extended to Scoil Mhuire Lakelands GNS. On the first day participation was enormous with more than 50 children on the cycle bus and participation has been great ever since. It is hoped in the new school year to further extend the routes to St Mathew’s NS and Star of the Sea BNS. While the organisers are delighted with the success of the Cycle Bus they are disappointed that children have to join the cycle bus in order to cycle safely to school. For more information contact sandymountcyclebus@gmail.com or follow them on twitter @SandymountCB
