Races and all other sanctioned Cycling Ireland activities may be suspended due to Covid19, but cyclists and the cycling trade in Ireland got a boost of sorts today.
Cycling shops have been classified by the Government
among the essential businesses that are being permitted to remain open.
Today a second wave of public health safety measures was
announced by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
He told people that unless they could not work from home
they should stay at home. And a whole range of businesses were ordered to close
for four weeks, until at least April 19th.
They include theatres, clubs, gyms, hairdressers, betting
offices, markets, and libraries while businesses like hotels have been told to
limit their occupancy.
Those retail businesses that are permitted to remain open, which include supermarkets, pharmacies and others have been told to implement more stringent social distancing measures.
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This will include controlling the number of people that
can be in a store at any one time; a measure that has already been implemented
by many such businesses.
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However, among the retailers classified as providing an
essential service which are being permitted to remain open are bike shops.
The list of retailers allowed to stay open includes: “Retailers
involved in the repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle repair and
related facilities (eg tyre sales and repairs).”
That is good news for bike shop owners in the Republic,
the vast majority of which are run by self employed people.
It is also a very strong indication the Government has no
plans, at least at this time, to in any way ban cycling.
In Spain, France and Italy cycling bans of varying forms
are in place. While cycling in a group in Ireland is a clear breach of social distancing
advice, for now riding alone is not being restricted in the Republic.
The advice by the British government, which impacts
Northern Ireland, is also that cycling alone is permitted.
Indeed, it was specifically mentioned by British Prime
Minister Boris Johnson as being acceptable.
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