PedalPower Festival, a yearly cycling event for all ages and abilities, took place at the Sundrive Velodrome, Eamonn Ceannt Park, Crumlin last Sunday 10 May. The event was organised by Dublin City Council, supported by the National Transport Authority and National Bike Week.

This was Dublin City Council’s flagship event for Bike Week and the Council’s library team was present on the day as well as other organisations.

PedalPower is a celebration of the benefits of cycling and it demonstrates how anyone can incorporate it into their everyday life through interactive workshops, engaging panel discussions and exciting activities.

Myself and other Dublin Cycling Campaign volunteers Colm Ryder and Hugh were stewards of the PedalPower Parade, which is a family-friendly, community cycle from the city centre to Éamonn Ceannt Park, along with five other marshalls. We were approximately 80 cyclists cycling from Parliament Street to Éamonn Ceannt Park and it was a pleasure to assist as a volunteer marshall. Thanks to PedalParty Parade for the great costumes as bees and butterflies. I really loved the theme of butterflies & bees, and it was great to join many of the participants putting on colourful costumes. It was a great Sunday celebrating our environment and embracing active travel.

Dublin Cycling Campaign was glad to be invited to have a stand at the event. We enjoyed meeting people of all ages who use bikes to get around. A highlight of our day was seeing all the children using the cycle training facility in the velodrome.

Dublin City Council’s Bicycle Mayor, Cllr Donna Cooney, led the Pedal Power parade to the park – and she and others can be seen in the RTE piece on the day here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72qrqfRXYo8

Additionally, there were BMX displays from Fire Ride and it was great to find out about the cycle school too. Change Clothes Dublin was there as well as Beeper Bikes and Moby Bikes.

A sincere thanks to all of the Dublin City Council staff, and those from Limelight Communications, for organising a terrific day.

Article by Miren-Maialen Mc Donald

Photos courtesy of Chris Shelley