An Irish local authority is taking the initiative and is
assembling a group of café stops designed specifically for cyclists; something
that could turn into a fantastic scheme across the country.
Back in February Kildare County Council sought
expressions of interest from any businesses who wished to host a dedicated
cycling café on their premises or grounds.
It is intended that new “cycling cafés” would become a
network of stop offs for cyclists throughout county Kildare.
Cyclists will be able to stop for a coffee in a location
where they are welcome and where facilities are laid on for them, such as bike
parking and some cycling repair equipment.
The idea began with a shop keeper in Ballymore Eustace,
Sean Fogarty, who set up the Cartwheel Cycle Café on his premises.
Advertisement
“There were very few facilities for cyclists, places they
could stop, in Kildare and that’s where the seeds of the idea started,” he said
or something that has evolved over the past decade.
Fogarty added a roof covering to an outdoor area around
10 years ago and it has since become a perfect place for cyclists to come and
ditch their bikes for a while so they can enjoy a coffee stop.
Related News
There is also a hatch from the outdoor area leading into
the shop’s café meaning cyclists can order food and drink from the covered area
outside without entering the café, though they are welcome to do so.
That has the added bonus of groups of cyclists being able
to keep an eye on their bikes as they can stay in the outdoor covered area.
The Cartwheel Cycle Café now features a pavilion open to
cyclists; a large space suitable for big groups with bikes. There are several
track pumps in the repair area.
Fogarty said he gets a lot of cycling groups stopping
during rides taking in the Wicklow Gap and the popular ‘around the lakes’
route.
Declan Keogh of Kildare County Council’s road safety, cycling and sustainable transport office said the council now has 19 expressions of interest from other businesses in the county who wanted to become hosts for dedicated cycling café or who made suggestions for the roll out of the scheme.
Hopefully if it proves a success in Kildare and more businesses open cycle cafés it may be taken up by other local authorities.
Topics
