Phase II:

The section of towpath from Harbour Bridge to Castlepollard Road (known as the Supply Line)

Phase III:

This longer section from Pipers Boreen to Boardstown Bridge over the N 52.

The policy position of Westmeath County Council is to proactively seek to deliver a long-term strategy for sustainable movement in Mullingar, based on a Green Route Strategy and Smarter Travel Policy, with the aim of reducing pressure on the environment and to offer alternatives to travelling by car, promoting safe travel, improving health and increasing tourism.

In delivering on this policy – in Spring 2009, Mullingar became a nationally recognised Cycling Hub Town when Westmeath County Council in conjunction with Failte Ireland launched 117km of cycle routes on 3 defined routes around Mullingar, 6 km of which linked Mullingar to Ballinea along the Royal Canal, thanks to permission received from Waterways Ireland.

Also, in October of  2009, the “Mullingar Cycle Network” project resulted from the successful bid by Westmeath County Council to secure grant funding from the Gateways and Hubs European Regional Development Fund, to create approximately 20km of high quality cycle lanes around the town of Mullingar, on eight key routes.

Then in January of 2010, the Council, in association with Westmeath Sports Partnership and Waterways Ireland, were successful in securing grant funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, to deliver an additional cycling and walking project in Mullingar, involving the upgrading of specific lengths of the Royal Canal towpaths over a three phase, three year period, that would also include the installation of bike stands and bike shelters around Mullingar and the introduction of an information and education campaign in schools and in communities around Mullingar.

Out of all this activity has grown the “Active Travel Mullingar” brand that is very much in evidence around Mullingar, from the “Active Travel Mullingar” Bike Shelters, the “Active Travel Mullingar” Van, the ActiveTravelMullingar.ie website and the fantastic new and upgraded cycling and walking infrastructure that is now in place around the town and particularly utilising the precious resource of the Royal Canal Towpaths.

A very important aspect of the Mullingar Active Travel Project is the information and awareness campaign that is being spearheaded via the Westmeath Sports Partnership in delivering the “Bike Start” Programme in our Primary and Secondary Schools and also in the Community setting.

This important training programme is getting children and indeed adults properly trained up to be proficient cyclists and getting them out and about on the new and upgraded cycling infrastructure, with particular use of the safe and pleasant surroundings of the Royal Canal resource in Westmeath, with the ultimate aim of giving children and adults the competencies to cycle on our roads safely and with confidence.

Our ceremony here today is appropriately taking place as part of the celebrations for National Bike Week 2012 and Mullingar is fast becoming a model of best practice for the work that is ongoing to provide quality cycling infrastructure backed by the all important information and awareness raising and training to enable more and more people to get active and particularly out cycling, thereby providing the real prospect of long-term benefits to personal health and indeed the health of the local environment.

Indeed, the celebration of bike week extends to the competitive arena with the National Criterium Cycling Championship taking place in the town on Friday 29^th June and the equally competitive but more local Inter-Firms Cycle races taking place as part of the Desitnatio n Sport Mullingar Festival of Sport on Sunday next 24^th June in Mullingar town centre. All in all  – Cycling in Mullingar has never been so good – and long may that continue.

I want to thank everyone involved in the “Active Travel Mullingar Project:

• from the County Manager and Elected reps who first approved of the project proposal in 2010;
• to the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport for the all important grant funding to date;
• to the Councils project management role and  co-funding arrangement;
• to Waterways Ireland for allowing the Canal Towpaths to be used for walking and Cycling activity and
• to all the staff in Westmeath Sports Partnership without whom, the all important educational strand of the project could not have succeeded as it has done.
• to our Schools in Mullingar and indeed our local communities in embracing and getting  involved in the ”Active Travel Mullingar” project –

It is really encouraging and rewarding to see the huge increase in cycling and walking traffic now being witnessed on a daily basis around Mullingar and particularly on the Canal Towpaths, which is truly a testament to the success of the “Active Travel Mullingar” project.

Finally, our School children are the future of the “Active Travel-Mullingar” project and the catalyst, which by their lead will ensure the buy-in and involvement of all our stakeholders and will foster the continued success of the “Active Travel Mullingar” project. Congratulations to one and all and I now officially open the most recent upgraded sections of Royal Canal Towpath for public use.

-a< �ln�:T_GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB’>Improve health

• Increase tourism in the greater Mullingar area.

The Active Travel Mullingar Project is delivering on several objectives and policies within the Westmeath County Development Plan 2008 – 2014 which supports the development of pedestrian and cyclist routes.

The Project is providing lasting impact via infrastructural works in developing the cycle paths along upgraded Canal Towpaths and the installation of branded cycle shelters in participating schools and around Mullingar town also.

The information, awareness and education campaigns are an integral part of the implementation process for the “Active Travel Mullingar” project and already 12 Primary and Secondary Schools in the Mullingar area (5^th & 6^th Classes & transition years respectively) have signed up to participate in the project. To date, over 700 children have been trained how to cycle and cycle safe, including general knowledge aspects of safety equipment and bike maintenance.

On the walking  element of the Active Travel Mullingar Project – a new Walking Group has been established in Mullingar and this programme will be extended into the community setting to encourage more and more people to get involved in walking and reaping the benefits of being involved in healthy and activity-based programmes

The Active Travel Mullingar Project under  the Smarter Travel Project funding stream, has so far delivered:

• Phase I, II & III – incorporating two sections  (totaling 4.122kilometres) of Canal Towpath upgraded to promote cycling and walking in a safe environment
• 6 Trained Bike Start Tutors
• 12 schools signed up to participate  in the project
• Over 1,000 school children trained to date.
• Ongoing educational “Bike Start” programme in schools via 5^th, 6^th and transition year student population.
• Upgraded Canal towpaths being used as part of the training programme.
• Upgraded Canal towpaths now being extensively used by pedestrians and cyclists.
• New Walking Group established in Mullingar.
• Installation of branded Cycle Shelters in participating schools and at strategic locations around Mullingar.
• “Active Travel Mullingar”  branded van for dedicated use on the education aspects of the project.
• New & exciting dedicated  Active  Travel Mullingar Website www.activetravelmullingar.ie to be launched shortly.
• “Active Travel Mullingar” Project a central focus for National Bike Week Celebrations in Mullingar
• Increasing the possibility of National/international cycling events as a result of the project focus on cycling and infrastructure being provided.  (National  Criterium Cycle Race held in Mullingar in 2011 and  earmarked for 2012)

The upgraded cycling and walking infrastructure provided thus far in Mullingar is the platform for the continued success of the Active Travel Mullingar Project, which, supported by ongoing information, awareness and educational campaigns, will promote knowledge and practical understanding of the principles of safe cycling and walking, including road safety, while encouraging student confidence in their cycling ability, through continued use of the infrastructure in place,  thus resulting in more children and adults in Mullingar cycling and walking, with the “Bike Start” educational element of the “Active Travel Mullingar” Project continuing within participating schools.

The new and dedicated “Active Travel Mullingar” Website will underpin the continuity of the project and provide information on active travel planning to any facility within the “Active Travel Mullingar” project area, will promote the health benefits of walking and cycling, show bike maintenance tips, CO2 calculator etc.

The new and innovative “Active Travel Mullingar” brand brings home the message of there being realistic and viable alternatives to travelling by car in Mullingar and provides the possibility of replication of the Active Travel Project in other areas in the county.

The “Active Travel Mullingar” Project has received a National Commendation at the recent Chambers Ireland “Excellence In Local Government Awards 2011, which is a very welcome and well earned acknowledgement of the value of the project and its ability to provide lasting benefits into the future for our environment, for our health and well being and our society in general.

In implementing National Smarter Travel Policy, Westmeath County Council and its strategic partner agencies, Waterways Ireland and Westmeath Sports Partnership are utilising the resource that is and the safe surroundings of the Royal Canal towpaths around Mullingar Town as an ideal platform for promoting safe cycling and offering opportunities for safe training areas for new cycling enthusiasts.

Approved grant funding from the Department of Transport in the amount of €247,180 over 3 years and match funding of €56,000 per annum from Westmeath County Council, the overall project proposal is to provide cycling and walking infrastructure along specific sections of the Royal Canal towpaths around Mullingar town, in collaboration with Waterways Ireland and Westmeath Sports Partnership.

The project aims to provide the necessary safe off road cycling infrastructure that will encourage and promote increased cycling and walking activity in the Mullingar area and to encourage commuters to park their cars on the outskirts of the town and either walk or cycle to their destination in town.

Over the course of the three year project, branded bike shelter facilities are being installed at strategic points within participating primary and secondary schools and around Mullingar particularly at shopping centres (2).

The integral “Bike Start” training within participating primary and secondary schools and walking and health education within local communities are being delivered via Westmeath Sports Partnership Ltd.

Westmeath County Council is proactively seeking to deliver a long-term strategy for sustainable movement in Mullingar, based on a Green Route Strategy and Smarter Travel Policy. This strategy seeks to reduce pressure on the environment and to offer alternatives to travelling by car, promoting safe travel, improving health and increasing tourism.

The vision is to establish Mullingar as a sustainable movement centre, using best practice principles with a view to promoting “Green Routes” to achieve sustainable growth both economically and physically, thereby promoting safe travel, improving health, reducing emissions and increasing tourism in the greater Mullingar area.

The main aims of the “Active Travel Mullingar” project being managed by Westmeath County Council are:

• To establish Mullingar as a sustainable movement centre, using best practice principles.
• Promoting “Green Routes” in order to achieve sustainable growth both economically and physically.
• Reduce pressure on the environment
• Offer realistic and viable alternatives to travelling by car.
• Promote safe travel
• Improve health
• Increase tourism in the greater Mullingar area.

The Active Travel Mullingar Project is delivering on several objectives and policies within the Westmeath County Development Plan 2008 – 2014 which supports the development of pedestrian and cyclist routes.

The Project is providing lasting impact via infrastructural works in developing the cycle paths along upgraded Canal Towpaths and the installation of branded cycle shelters in participating schools and around Mullingar town also.

The information, awareness and education campaigns are an integral part of the implementation process for the “Active Travel Mullingar” project and already 12 Primary and Secondary Schools in the Mullingar area (5^th & 6^th Classes & transition years respectively) have signed up to participate in the project. To date, over 700 children have been trained how to cycle and cycle safe, including general knowledge aspects of safety equipment and bike maintenance.

On the walking  element of the Active Travel Mullingar Project – a new Walking Group has been established in Mullingar and this programme will be extended into the community setting to encourage more and more people to get involved in walking and reaping the benefits of being involved in healthy and activity-based programmes

The Active Travel Mullingar Project under  the Smarter Travel Project funding stream, has so far delivered:

• Phase I, II & III – incorporating two sections  (totaling 4.122kilometres) of Canal Towpath upgraded to promote cycling and walking in a safe environment
• 6 Trained Bike Start Tutors
• 12 schools signed up to participate  in the project
• Over 1,000 school children trained to date.
• Ongoing educational “Bike Start” programme in schools via 5^th, 6^th and transition year student population.
• Upgraded Canal towpaths being used as part of the training programme.
• Upgraded Canal towpaths now being extensively used by pedestrians and cyclists.
• New Walking Group established in Mullingar.
• Installation of branded Cycle Shelters in participating schools and at strategic locations around Mullingar.
• “Active Travel Mullingar”  branded van for dedicated use on the education aspects of the project.
• New & exciting dedicated  Active  Travel Mullingar Website www.activetravelmullingar.ie to be launched shortly.
• “Active Travel Mullingar” Project a central focus for National Bike Week Celebrations in Mullingar
• Increasing the possibility of National/international cycling events as a result of the project focus on cycling and infrastructure being provided.  (National  Criterium Cycle Race held in Mullingar in 2011 and  earmarked for 2012)

The upgraded cycling and walking infrastructure provided thus far in Mullingar is the platform for the continued success of the Active Travel Mullingar Project, which, supported by ongoing information, awareness and educational campaigns, will promote knowledge and practical understanding of the principles of safe cycling and walking, including road safety, while encouraging student confidence in their cycling ability, through continued use of the infrastructure in place,  thus resulting in more children and adults in Mullingar cycling and walking, with the “Bike Start” educational element of the “Active Travel Mullingar” Project continuing within participating schools.

The new and dedicated “Active Travel Mullingar” Website will underpin the continuity of the project and provide information on active travel planning to any facility within the “Active Travel Mullingar” project area, will promote the health benefits of walking and cycling, show bike maintenance tips, CO2 calculator etc.

The new and innovative “Active Travel Mullingar” brand brings home the message of there being realistic and viable alternatives to travelling by car in Mullingar and provides the possibility of replication of the Active Travel Project in other areas in the county.

The “Active Travel Mullingar” Project has received a National Commendation at the recent Chambers Ireland “Excellence In Local Government Awards 2011, which is a very welcome and well earned acknowledgement of the value of the project and its ability to provide lasting benefits into the future for our environment, for our health and well being and our society in general.

There was huge excitement last Wednesday afternoon, June 22, as fifth and sixth class students from the local Gaelscoil undertook the last stint of their three week cycle safety course with Active Travel, Mullingar.

Download this article

• Local Pupils Dream Come True (PDF | 1.10MB)

The cycle will follow a 1.5KM looped route through Mullingar Town Centre. The roads will be closed during the cycle and this will give participants an unique opportunity to cycle through the town traffic free. The event is specifically for local schools, students, parents and teachers who have completed the Active Travel Mullingar Cycling Training programme.

Meeting Point

For participants of the Active Travel Showcase please meet at the Cathedral Carpark at 2pm. The showcase starts at 2.30pm and will finish at 2.50pm.

The Route

Route through Mullingar - click to enlarge

Fashion on two wheels

Cycle Chic is the culture of cycling in fashionable clothing. While cycling for recreation and transport many people wear everyday clothing rather than specialist clothing usually associated with sports cycling like lycra and specialist cycling shoes.

For more Cycle Chic ideas check out www.copenhagencyclechic.com

Cycling can be chic with some fashionable accessories

Notes:

• Please ensure to dress safely while cycling.
• Wear your helmet and keep baggy clothing away from the bicycle chain.
• The prize will be awarded to the person in the submitted photo.
• Photos must be submitted with consent of the person and for those under 18 parental consent must be sought also.

For updates on events during Destination Sport follow us on Facebook – Destination Sport Mullingar on Facebook

When?

Wednesday, 22nd of June 2011 is National C.O.W day.

It was a beautiful sunny day in Mullingar on Thursday, 7th April – a perfect day for the event. The run started at the Town Park and our sports men and women ran two laps of the town centre, with the finish line back at the entrance to the park.

Well done to everyone who took part!

A few photos from the day…

12►

Westmeath County Council with the local Sports Partnership and Waterways Ireland have announced the completion of the first “Bike Start” training, by 65 primary level students and 20 secondary level students, under the “Active Travel – Mullingar” Project. The schools involved to date are: Presentation Senior, All Saints, St. Colman’s and Loreto College.

Mullingar became a nationally recognised Cycling Hub Town in 2009, when Westmeath County Council in conjunction with Waterways Ireland and Failte Ireland launched 117km of cycle routes on three defined routes around Mullingar, 6 km of which linked Mullingar to Ballinea along the Royal Canal.

Read the full article on the Westmeath Examiner website »

Westmeath County Council and partner agencies Westmeath Sports Partnership and Waterways Ireland are delighted to announce the completion of the first “Bike Start” training, by 65 primary level students and 20 secondary level students, under the “Active Travel – Mullingar” Project. The successful students received their certificates at an award ceremony on Friday 19th November 2010 in the Presentation School, Harbour Street, Mullingar.

The “Active Travel Mullingar” project, seeks to deliver a long-term strategy for sustainable movement in Mullingar, based on a Green Route Strategy and Smarter Travel Policy, with the aim of reducing pressure on the environment and to offer alternatives to travelling by car, promoting safe travel, improving health and increasing tourism.

Read the full article on the Westmeath County Council website »

1. Mullingar Cycle Network Project

This project will deliver 20k of cycle lanes in Mullingar and environs and is progressing under the Greener Routes Strategy and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The vision is to establish Mullingar as a sustainable movement centre, using best practice principles with a view to promoting ‘Green Routes’ to achieve sustainable growth both economically and physically thereby promoting safe travel, improving health and increasing tourism in the greater mullingar area.

2. Smarter Travel Mullingar Project

Under the Smarter Travel Project fund part funded by the Department of Transport, this project collaborates with Westmeath Sports Partnership Ltd., and the HSE, seeks to provide cycling and walking infrastructure, utilising the Royal Canal townpaths around Mullingar town, to encourage commuters to mpark their cars on the outskirts of the town and either walk or cycle to mtheir destination. Both projects aim to increase recreational cycling and walking in the Mullingar area and will involve implementing numerous measures. Bike Shelters and bike parking facilities will be available at strategic points within the town including primary and secondary schools. There will be also Cycle safe, walking and health education within local mcommunities, primary schools and secondary schools.

As part of the overall‚ ‘Active Travel Mullingar’ project there will also be a dedicated webpage which will provide information on active travel planning to any facility within the ‘Active Travel Mullingar’ project. It will also promote the health benefits of walking and cycling, show bike maintenances tips, CO2 calculators,etc.