Bike Training for local schools

As part of Bike Week Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Health & Wellbeing Department organised free bike skills training for four local primary schools in the District. Pupils from St Ronan's Primary School Newry, Cortamlet Primary School, Newtownhamilton, St Joseph's Primary School Killough and Annsborough Integrated Primary School, Castlewellan took part in the training which was provided by Lisburn based company Tricycle.

Pupils learned how to check their bike for road worthiness, carry out helmet and clothing checks and were given some basic bike handling skills. The training was a certified course ‘National Standards of Cycle Training Level 1’. All pupils received a certificate on completing the training and each school was presented with a complementary bike stand.

The initiative, supported by Travelwise NI, is part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to promote the use of more sustainable ways of travelling around the district. 

Chairperson Councillor Naomi Bailie and Vice Chairperson Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick took time out of their busy schedules to attend some of the training sessions. 

Chairperson Baillie said she was “delighted to support Bike Week as it plays an important role in helping people rethink their everyday journeys and encouraging them to switch to cycling as a cheap, quick, sustainable and fun way to get around”.