Bike Week is a celebration of active travel, sustainable transport and simply the joys of cycling a bike! In partnership with the National Transport Authority, this year Green-Schools will celebrate Bike Week in May on Saturday 14th and will run through to Sunday 22nd. National COW Day (Cycle on Wednesdays/Weekdays) will be held on Wednesday May 18th.

There are multiple environmental and health benefits to cycling to school, but most importantly cycling is one of the most efficient and rewarding ways to get to school. Cycling, as a mode of travel, is on the increase with more people choosing to cycle for shorter journeys. According to Central Statistics Office data, “the monthly volume of bicycles during peak hours in November 2021 was 48% higher than November 2020”. This upward trend of people choosing to cycle is a welcome one, however we need to ensure that all members of society, all ages, all genders and all abilities feel confident to cycle.

The Green-Schools Travel programme, together with the Safe Routes to School programme, aims to encourage more students to regularly cycle to school. To support this aim, these programmes focus on promoting the benefits of active travel, reducing the number of cars at the school gate and delivering cycling infrastructure to schools.

Green-Schools would like to invite all schools currently on Travel and Global Citizenship Travel to participate in Bike Week. Schools who have already been awarded the Travel flag are also welcome to participate in the initiative and are invited to enter the competition to see which school has the highest number of students cycling on National COW.

Remember to keep a record of how many students cycled to school on National COW Day. Simply complete and submit the entry form to ensure that your numbers are included in the count and to be in with a chance of winning bike prizes for your school.

Bike events will be taking place across Ireland and you can find out what activities are happening in your area by visiting the NTA’s dedicated Bike Week page. Green-Schools Travel Officers will be hosting bike workshops, and our #andshecycles Ambassadors will be celebrating the week with various cycling activities. Please contact the Green-Schools Travel Team on travel@greenschoolsireland.org or your local Green-Schools Travel Officer with any enquiries. Don’t forget to share your photos and news with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by tagging @GreenSchoolsIre and @TFIupdates, using the #BikeWeek.

Freedom Machine Comic Competition

This year for Bike Week we want to hear all about your cycle to school through the medium of the comic strip! Bike Week 2022 takes place from Saturday May 14th to Sunday, May 22nd. National COW Day (Cycle on Wednesday) takes place on Wednesday, May 18th.

Do you cycle to school or will you cycle during Bike Week 2022? How does cycling make you feel? What do you see, hear and smell on your journey? Is it easy or difficult; a long or short journey? Who do you meet along the way; do your friends join you on your cycle or is it a solitary adventure?

We are looking for comic strips that showcase a Freedom Machine Cycling Adventure from students in all schools. The categories for entry are:

• Junior Primary (Junior Infants – 2nd Class)
• Senior Primary (3rd Class – 6th Class)
• Secondary Schools students.

Prizes

The winning entry in both primary categories will win a €100 voucher for Jiminy.ie while the winning entry in the Secondary Schools category will win a €100 Evans Art Supplies voucher. Two runners-up in each category will win cycling goodies.

Click here to find out more and download templates to help students create their own comic adventure!