Cork Bike Week 2023: Bats, bike doctors, carnivals, and a look back at our cycling past
The annual celebration of cycling returns as part of National Bike Week. The focus of Cork Bike Week is on fun, fitness, inclusivity and opportunities to explore...on two wheels.
As the BBC proved this week with its launch of a solar-powered mobile broadcasting unit built on an electric cargo bike, the potential for bikes is limitless.
While there are no bicycle broadcast units in the lineup for Cork Bike Week, there will be plenty of cargo bikes, e-bikes, and good old-fashioned pedal-powered bikes on show in the week-long festival, which pairs everything from sketching and cinema with bicycles.
This includes exhibitions, bike repair workshops, introductions to e-bikes and cargo bikes, short and long cycle excursions across the city and county, but also poetry and disco-related bicycle events.
At Elizabeth Fort in the city centre, Bishopstown man and vice chairperson of Cork Cycling Campaign Kevin Long will be staging “Wheel of Time” an exhibition of cycling-related photographs from Cork (Saturday, May 13 10am - 4pm). We wrote about Kevin on T+D and his goal to use these images as part of a comprehensive book documenting the history of cycling in Cork which would be published with the University of Eindhoven.
Kevin is hoping that people will come along on Saturday, not just to view the exhibition, but also to share memories of cycling in Cork, and perhaps even bring photos that could be used in the book.
“The aim of the exhibition is to get people thinking differently about cycling in Cork, how it worked for Cork in the past and can do so again. It is a way of encouraging a culture of cycling in Cork,” Kevin told Tripe + Drisheen.
“Infrastructure alone will not bring about the mode shift needed to change our overreliance on cars in Cork,” he said, adding that events such as Bike Week are a great way to put the focus back on cycling while having fun.
Kevin will be discussing his research and the motivation behind the project in a talk at 2pm on Saturday in Elizabeth Fort, before the exhibition wraps up.
Cycling advocate and Ballincollig man Tom Hennessy told T+D that Bike Week is an opportunity for everyone to take to the saddle, especially those who might not have been on a bike for a while.
“Bike Week offers an excellent opportunity for novice bikers, and those considering getting back on the saddle (most of us cycled at one time in our lives) to gain confidence in managed and safe environments. Most events will be well attended, and this safety in numbers element allows individuals to gain confidence while on the road,” Tom said.
This is the first year that Republic of Bike, of which Tom is a member, will be involved in Cork Bike Week. The new group has gained a following in the city for their flagship “Bike Bop”, a disco on wheels that rolls through the city centre streets every month.
For Cork Bike Week, Republic of Bike is holding a “Carnival of Colour Bike Bop” in the city centre and is asking people to come dressed in colourful outfits.
“It's a celebration of bikes and music,” Tom said, adding that the carnival is designed for the whole family, and the aim is to have fun. On wheels.
Just this week Green Party Councillor Collette Finn tabled a motion at the monthly City Council meeting, calling for funding to be made available to gather more data about the number of cyclists in the city.
This would support data collected by Cork Cycling Campaign and ultimately give the local authority and the National Transport Authority a better idea of the modal shift to cycling.
What’s clear, though, is the bike is back, especially during Cork Bike Week.
Cork Bike Week runs from May 13 to May 21, and the schedule is packed with cycling-related events every day across the city and county.You can view the events for each day here.
Funding for Cork Bike Week comes through Cork Sports Partnership, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.
A few highlights from Cork Bike Week:
Author talk: John Devoy
Date & Time: Fri, 12th May at 11am (Midleton) and Sat, May 13th at 11:30am (Mallow)
Meeting Point: Midleton Library and Mallow Library
Who: All welcome.
What: On April Fool's Day, East Cork man John Devoy set off on an epic journey from Cork to Cape Town via the Arctic Circle and the Middle East, passing through 33 countries and covering 33,000kms. As part of Cork Bike Week, John will be speaking about his journey and the subsequent book he wrote, “Quondam: Travels in a Once World”.
Bike Week Olympics Fun, Games & Picnic
Date & Time: Sat, 13thMay at 2.30-4.30pm
Meeting Point: Skate Park on the Mardyke
Who: Open to all ages and abilities
What: A fun play focussed event aimed particularly at children and families but open to all to discover. A social picnic will be accompanied by fun bike games such as a slow race obstacle course. More information here.
Rebel Wheelers Intro to Triathlon for Children with Physical Disabilities
Date & Time: Sat, 13th May at 10.30am
Meeting Point: Crann Centre
Who: Children with physical disabilities and their families, including siblings
What: Introduce children to the range of cycling options. Get children on their bikes, learning bike handling skills, transition from bike to running. Completing a fun duathlon event at the end of the session.
Info: mnichuinneain@icloud.com
Cargo & Inclusive Bikes Open Day
Date & Time: Sun, 14th May at 1pm
Meeting Point: Grand Parade
Who: Everyone
What: Pop into the city and chat with Republic of Bike, Cork Sports Partnership, Cope Foundation, City View Wheels, Irish Bikesmith & Greenaer who will be showcasing a selection of cargo bikes and inclusive bikes. There will also be fun play games, bike doctor, music, chalk drawings and free goodies.
Info: tomhennessy07@gmail.com or jkirby@corksports.ie
Bike Week Movie Night
Date & Time: Tues, 16th May at 8:30pm
Meeting Point: The Friary, 62 Shandon St, Sunday's Well
Who: Adults
What: To celebrate bike week 2023 the Friary Bar will treat us to a showing of classic Bicycle film. Free snacks and popcorn for everybody. More information here.
Bat Cycle to Ballincollig
Date & Time: Thurs, 18th May at 8pm
Meeting Point: Grand Parade
Who: Older Children & Adults
What: In collaboration with biodiversity week. A cycle out to Ballincollig regional park out along the river the Mardyke and Lee Fields. There will be a break for a picnic before the journey back to the city, as the sun sets there will be opportunities for bat watching. Participants will have an opportunity to use a bat detector and a second bat expert guide may be added subject to confirmation. More information here.
Skibbereen Cycle Bus Goes To The Beach
Date & Time: Sat, 20th May at 2pm
Meeting Point: Cycle Sense, Skibbereen
Who: Children, Families, Adults
What: Fun cycle with pals to the beach for pizza
eBike Escape to Rostellan Farm with Midleton Greenway Bikes & Bites
Date & Time: Sat, 20th May at 2.15pm
Meeting Point: Midleton Greenway Bikes & Bites
Who: Adults
What: 25km cycle from Midleton to East Ferry and Rostellan. A pit stop at Rostellan Farm for local produce from neighbouring farms and award-winning artisan Irish food producers. More information here.
