Cyclists taking in some of the popular cycling routes and beauty spots in county Laois will soon be able to stop off at new dedicated cycling cafes or ‘smart cycling stops’ after funding was awarded for some of the facilities.
Cllr Mary Sweeney raised the issue of a network of
cycling cafes, similar to plans already underway in Co Kildare, being created
in county Laois at a recent Municipal District meeting in Portlaoise.
She was informed by an official from Laois County Council that some €65,000 is being allocated in a first tranche to businesses providing stops for cyclists along the Slieve Blooms cycle routes and in Durrow
Director of Services at Laois County Council, Simon
Walton, said when the Smart Cycling Stops are introduced they would “provide
support to local economic activity in addition to enhanced facilities for
cyclists”.
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Cllr Sweeney welcomed that news, saying the Ballyroan Bike Week was a great success and she believed there would be a high demand for cycling cafés or ‘smart cycling stops’ if they were created.
The move by Laois County Council to allocate the funds to develop what it has termed ‘Smart Cycling Stops’ follows similar developments elsewhere.
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Just eight months after going public with its plans for a
series of cycling cafés across its catchment area, Kildare County Council now
has more than 20 cafés in various stages of preparation.
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.
In August it emerged cycling cafés had been granted €25,000 each to start and develop their facilities under a Government plan to change towns and villages to meet the challenges posed by Covid19.
Under Town & Village Renewal
Scheme 2020 – Accelerated Measure Round 1 the two cycle cafés to
receive the €25,000 were in Lowtown and Sallins.
The money was awarded to both businesses to “support the
establishment of a ‘Cycle Café’ to promote cycling and provide cyclists and
cycling groups with a pit stop”.
The awarding of those funds was part of a total €2.8
million awarded to 106 projects in towns and villages all over Ireland by
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD.
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