Dublin Cycling Campaign’s monthly public meeting entitled ‘Cycling related social enterprises’ took place on 10 April 2025 at the Academy Plaza Hotel off O’Connell Street.

Our first speaker was Mark Dunne from Rediscover Cycling at the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun which focuses on cycle reuse, repair and education. Mark told us how used bicycles are reconditioned as well as about the pop-up events and repair cafés and spoke about beginners’ and home mechanic courses.

Jamie Regan of Frontline Make Change spoke about the amazing job that Frontline Bikes do. It is a social enterprise, part of Frontline Make Changes which is based in Inchicore and provides support to those who need help overcoming drug and alcohol addiction and wish to make change.

Finally we heard from Stephen Mc Manus from the Bike Hub based in Dún Laoghaire and in Eamonn Ceannt Park in Dublin 12. The Bike Hub is a social enterprise which offers a range of services including managing the lending of adapted bicycles and bicycle maintenance classes.

The above initiatives are encouraging and supporting communities traditionally excluded from cycling through the provision of accessible bikes, training and outreach programmes.

There were around 25 of our Dublin Cycling Campaign members at the meeting. Siobhán McNamara who is the deputy Chair of the Dublin Cycling campaign introduced the speakers and chaired the questions and answers session. There was a positive atmosphere at the meeting, with both new faces and existing members sharing their thoughts and asking questions to all the speakers

Following the meeting, we went for drinks and informal conversation to the pub.

Article and photo by Miren Maialen Samper.