*Photograph: Chris Copley
A GROUP of Ennis children are breaking the cycle of school traffic congestion, by swapping the car run for their bicycles each morning.
Pupils from Gaelscoil Mhichíl Cíosóg in Ennis, aged as young as six, are helping to save the planet, decongest roads and stay active by cycling to school every day. Brian Nevin is the parent spearheading Peloton na Páistí, a cycling bus that departs from Supervalu, Roslevan for the morning 2km excursion.
Brian was inspired by other cycling busses that had been established in other schools around the county and the walking busses that also help children get to school safely each day.
As a passionate long-time cyclist, Nevin had always instilled a love of cycling into his son, Hugo, “I’ve had him on a bike since he was two”. Brian saw the longing his son had to cycle to school – and knew if his son had a desire to cycle to school, other children must feel the same.
Brian tells The Clare Echo, “I spoke to a couple of parents that I know are Gaelscoil parents. I said to them, look, we are keen on cycling to school, and they said so are we, and I said ok, well, let’s see if we can get something established here.”
Nevin also speaks passionately about the environmental benefits of Peloton na Páistí. Brian records the data of the carbon saved by just himself and Hugo each morning by using Strava, an app for recording movement.
“Strava gives you an option to turn these rides into a commute and from that then you will get the carbon saved data.
“For 200 trips is 244kg of carbon salve, total co2 saved that equates to 1,600km of car travel that has been avoided. That is equivalent to two short return flights that haven’t been taken and polluting the atmosphere and that does the work of 11 mature trees. It also equates to about 30,00 phone charges. That’s just two people doing 200 trips”.
The cycle is two kilometres long and it takes about seven minutes to complete, which is the same amount of time as driving with no traffic.
“We probably pass 100 cars in traffic sitting there, just not moving, and if you count every car that is school bound, it’s probably more than half, if not three quarters”
Peloton na Paisti puts safety as its number one priority and emphasizes the vitality for parent contribution, “it’s entirely dependent on parents to help us out with this. We don’t invite kids to come along without parents”.
“Safety is paramount here. It’s absolutely critical that kids follow the rules of the road. No racing, no speeding, you know that we all do it at a safe pace and be mindful of the rules of the road and be mindful of traffic. All the kids would have lights on their bikes. We all wear hi viz and helmets as well. I actually got some lights through Roisin Garvey [MEP]”.
The Gaelscoil parent reminisces on his childhood, and how cycling to school was a fundamental part of his daily life.
“I’m originally from Corrovorin, and that’s how I went to school. I cycled to school with 20 or 30 other kids and plenty of kids coming in from Roslevan and back then there was 20 or 30 of us all cycling to school, it’s just refreshing to see kids really enjoying their cycle to school”.
Road works are taking place on the Tulla Road to implement the Active Travel Scheme, which will widen the footpaths and include an elevated cycle lane that is segregated from the busy traffic from the road, to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. Brian notes, “the game changer for us will be on that infrastructure, when that’s completed. I think it will encourage more kids to come along, get their bikes out and come and join us.”
The cyclists meet at SuperValu, Roslevan every morning at 8:15 am and depart at 8:20 am.
