Just six months after going public with its plans for a series of cycling cafés across its catchment area, Kildare County Council now has 21 more cafés in various stages of preparation.
Stickybottle reported news last month about how the council had invited expressions of interest from business owners who wanted to host a designated cycling café on their premises.
The idea was modeled on the Cartwheel Cycle Café in Ballymore Eustace, which has been designed specifically as a stopping point for groups of cyclists.
With the Kildare scheme proving so popular it is hoped the idea will spread throughout Ireland and that cafés will emerge nationwide that welcome groups of cyclists and are set up in a cycling-friendly way.
Just two weeks ago when the Government announced funding for businesses that were meeting the challenges posed by Covid19, it emerged two more cycling cafés in Kildare were each receiving €25,000 in funding; one in Lowtown and another in Sallins.
Advertisement
Related News
And now Declan Keogh, Kildare County Council’s road safety, cycling and sustainable transport officer, has said a large number of businesses had signed up for the scheme and were in various stages of planning.
Twelve local businesses have been approved to host for a ‘designated cycle café’ in Kildare, with six other applications awaiting approval and three more waiting to be inspected for suitability.
As well as the €50,000 awarded by the Department of Rural
and Community Development for the two cycling cafés in Lowtown and Sallins, the
council has also secured €8,500 from the Department of Transport for its Bike
Week plans.
Keogh said he was delighted the funding had been approved
and said the plan to roll out a network of cycle cafés across the county was
now gathering pace.
“Cycle Cafés will bring additional business and tourism
to the county, and in addition to that, it will add to the attractions which
local amenities offer,” he said.
“The approved designated Cycle Café’s will help boost the
profile and benefits of cycling in Kildare and also ensure that cyclists are provided
with much needed ‘pit stops’ along their routes, while also taking in the
lovely attractions and amenities the county has to offer.”
Topics
