{"id":3388,"date":"2021-10-12T09:11:02","date_gmt":"2021-10-12T09:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/?p=3388"},"modified":"2021-10-13T09:08:55","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T09:08:55","slug":"3388","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2021\/10\/12\/3388\/","title":{"rendered":"An Interview with Cork-based Social Enterprise Cycle Sense"},"content":{"rendered":"

While fans of the Olympics might know Skibbereen as rowing country, that\u2019s not the only thing going on in the West Cork town. For the past 14 years, life on two wheels has been the focus of Cycle Sense, a social enterprise founded by local pair Katie Mann and Ruth Bullough.<\/p>\n

Since their beginnings, they\u2019ve rolled out cycle training for primary school students throughout the region; advocated for change at a local and nationwide level; and last year opened their first premises, a workshop that serves as a base, an upcycling centre, and a whole lot more.<\/p>\n

Ruth takes us back to 2007, when it all began: \u201cI was friends with Katie and heard that she\u2019d been involved in going to schools with the Garda\u00ed running cycle training. My kids were just at that point where they were starting to venture out and spend time on the roads; I figured it would be great if they could cycle into school. My first experience of doing it was pretty frightening though; I found I didn\u2019t know what to do with the traffic, or what to tell the kids. I reached out to Katie, wondering how we could help families in the same position.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was from these humble beginnings that a programme that\u2019s seen more than 12,000 children receive cycle training grew. And while \u201cthat\u2019s still the bread and butter\u201d of the Cycle Sense operation \u2013 Katie and Ruth still delivering instruction, along with additional recruit Karl Watkins \u2013 it became clear that the outlook needed to stretch much further.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not discrediting what cycle training can be,\u201d Ruth explains. \u201cThe one-to-one communication with the kids, and what they get out of it \u2013 particularly the children who sort of \u2018slip through the net\u2019 and have never learned to cycle \u2013 is a really wonderful and positive experience. But in recent years we realised we weren\u2019t having quite the impact we might have hoped for; that it was a much broader challenge to get people out cycling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Central to the renewed efforts to fuel a cycling revolution in the area was the establishment of a base in the town; a workshop in Skibbereen. \u201cWe share a passion not only for bikes, but for the environment, waste reduction, social inclusion \u2013 so we looked at what else we could do. In our workshop, we\u2019re taking bikes from civic amenity sites \u2013 it\u2019s supported by Cork County and City Councils \u2013 and bikes that have been thrown away, and through a learning and training programme rebuilding them in order to get cheap bikes available in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bike maintenance is another focus. \u201cThat can be a big barrier,\u201d Ruth reveals. \u201cFor both kids and parents, not knowing how to look after your bike is a problem \u2013 so we\u2019ve found that to be another empowering role that we can play.\u201d<\/p>\n

The workshop is also the site of their expanding advocacy efforts; \u201cWe\u2019re a thorn in the sides of the engineers around us,\u201d Ruth laughs. \u201cBut unless we develop the infrastructure to allow the safe passage of cyclists, and prioritise non-motorised traffic, it\u2019s not going to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

It can be a delicate balancing act \u2013 making the best of the current situation, while passionately campaigning for significant change. But, as Ruth sees it, simple solutions are often at hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have significant traffic, you have to dedicate space for cyclists; in rural areas, that\u2019s\u00a0not always possible\u00a0. So, in an area like ours,\u00a0the nature of the road and motorists\u2019 behaviour can be changed. Change their speed, for example, introduce signage that makes it clear that the road is a shared space between cars and bikes. There\u2019s loads of things that can be done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, that\u2019s the case for Cycle Sense, too. A paint repurposing effort, REVIVE Paint, adds another string to their bow. The introduction of a cargo bike, aiming to make eco-friendly deliveries in the local area, is a further demonstration of their ambition \u2013 and, Ruth says, that\u2019s just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to get the cargo bike better placed and used more. We\u2019ve got buildings to upgrade, and another aim is to create a track around our site where people can learn to cycle, off the road. We want to grow our fleet of bikes that are accessible for people with disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a small town with big ideas and a big heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

To find out more, visit <\/strong>cyclesense.ie<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re at the beginning of your cycling journey make sure you\u2019re equipped with these top tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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