Laois businesses got a chance to try out an e-bike during a taster cycle held during Bike Week. Laois County Council’s Climate Action Section ran the event when several Portlaoise businesses took part giving staff that cycle an opportunity to try an e-bike and for those staff that don’t cycle to work yet, to bike around Portlaoise. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO
In attendance were staff from Midlands Park Hotel, Fingleton White and VIMAR. Midlands Park Hotel generously allowed this event to start and finish at the plaza in front of the hotel and provided refreshments.
Karen Moore, Community Climate Action Officer, Laois County Council who organised the event said “This event was run in conjunction with Specialized Ireland bike company to give staff of local businesses a taste for what a bike to work trip might be like. The feedback from participants was wholly positive with many saying they were going to try and cycle to work more often. Thank you so much to those businesses who cycled with us for Bike Week.
”That morning Specialized Ireland brought top quality commuting e-bikes and fitted each staff member to the most suitable sized bike and helmet. Led by Karen with Specialized Bike staff conducting the group from the back, participants set off in groups of 10. The cycle route tookthe groups down main street and across to the People's Park where they stopped to meet Green-Schools Travel Officer Michéle Castiaux. Michéle was delivering bike skills workshops with Scoil Bhride pupils who were using the upcycled bike library and Learn to Bike Park provided by Laois County Council. All 10 schools in the Portlaoise Cluster Project have been booking in for these cycle safety sessions with Green-Schools.Raul Crenier, Local Marketing Lead, Specialized Ireland said “The best part of this Business Bike Taster was the good energy of the people, which was contagious – bike energy! We are glad to show that cycling is not just for fitness and for getting from A to B but for the pure enjoyment of it.”
Saoirse O’Connor, Human Resources Administrator, Midlands Park Hotel said “The cycle with Laois County Council and Specialized Ireland was truly special. One of our team said after that she is considering a bike for her commute to work!”Jan Smolorz, Managing Director, VIMAR said “It was a great experience. I especially enjoyed trying an e- bike for the first time; it was a lot of fun. Highly recommend it! Many people would switch from a car to an electric bike.”
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