Bicycles
Cycle, cycle and recycle
Cycling has many physical and mental health benefits as well as having positive environmental benefits. It’s a healthy, fun and low-impact form of exercise for all ages and easy to fit into a daily routine by riding to the shops, park, school or work.
Cycling does not emit greenhouse gases nor pollutants which impacts on air quality particularly in towns and cities. A report form British Heart Foundation NI highlighted the link between air pollution and impact on health contributes to 800 deaths a year in NI.
Cycling in Northern Ireland
Since the pandemic, more people are getting on their bike and local authorities are increasing their Greenways encourage more people to use it as a form of transport. The Cycling in NI 2019-2020 report provides information on attitudes to and access to cycling. Estimates that less than £2 per head is spent in Northern Ireland on active travel, both walking and cycling – the lowest in the UK – so a great opportunity for further infrastructure investment
Cycling in NI 2019-2020
What can I do… to donate, repair and buy preloved bikes
Meet the NIRN members working to encourage reuse and repair of second hand bikes.
East Belfast Mission
East Belfast Mission collaborates with Belfast City Council (BCC) in locating recycling containers for preloved bikes BCC recycling centres. East Belfast Mission collect these bikes, and then repaired and sold in their Restore Shops, keeping them in circulation for someone else to enjoy.
Cloughmills Community Action Team
Cloughmills Community Action Team have a range of activities to encourage people in their community to cycle – from community bike hire, repair and maintenance facilities , to opening a bike exchange programme. They also offer refresher safety courses if you have not been out on the roads for a while and biking excursions for family and friends to get groups of people out cycling together
Repair Cafe Belfast
Repair Cafe Belfast holds online maintenance and repair workshops for bicycles so that you can learn to keep your bike in tip-top condition from the comfort of your home.
Derry City & Strabane District Council
Derry City & Strabane District Council has an Active and Sustainabile Travel Forum and is developing the district’s cycling network both for leisure and as a way of change how people get to work schools and other facilities. Explore cycling routes in this region.
Source: NI Greenways
I reuse, what about you?
Discover more about the environmental benefits of maintaining your existing bicycle or buying a secondhand bicycle using the “I reuse, what about you?” online calculator.