Well, the new school term has begun again and the cycle bus has also started back for a new term.
Over the summer, our junior cyclists have all grown in confidence and now we see some who had been on bike seats on their parent's bike last year have now started cycling as individual cyclists on the bus! It really is wonderful to see them gaining independence and developing a love of cycling.
Thanks to the funding from Microsoft ChangeX, our little community of cyclists is welcoming more new members who are choosing to leave the car at home and join us in actively travelling to school. In addition, Dublin City Council has repaired some of the speed bumps on our route over the summer, making it a much smoother journey to the school gate.
Once a week, you're more or less guaranteed the North Bay Cycle Bus will be cycling together to school. And that means a lot to some families who may not be able to cycle every day - it's a special day where they pedal together. We even had a cycle through thunder and lightning on our second week back! Despite the rain, it didn't dampen our spirits, in fact, I think some kids might have even preferred our cycle in the rain :)
We'll keep her lit throughout October and then take a little break until March.
Thanks very much to the ChangeX team for supporting us!
We had our first cycle a couple of weeks ago and it went great! Kids are enjoying it, marshals too and everyone is gaining confidence on the roads. Onwards and upwards from here.
Northbay CycleBus
Summary of Planning Meeting
22 April 2022
In attendance: Erin McGann, Rita Kopeczky, Kevin Kelleher, Eoin Fahey, Ger Cahill
Start: Wednesday, 11 May 2022, 8am to arrive at school before 8:40.
Frequency: once a week
Cycle schedule: March – June and September - October each year.
Meeting point: Rathmore Park, Raheny, D.5
Registration: Microsoft forms for sign up, will be circulated by principal to school community.
Microsoft ChangeX seed money will be spent on:
• First aid kit
• Helmet cameras
• Branded high vis for kids and marshals
• Bicycle horn
It is our hope that this project will encourage and facilitate the children attending our school to cycle to school instead of being driven to school in a car. The children will arrive refreshed and are ready to begin their day after doing some exercise and getting the blood flowing first thing in the morning.
It will benefit our community as it will reduce the traffic in the vicinity of the school, making it safer for those on foot. In addition, the environment will also benefit with less emissions from cars on the road shuttling children to school.
