A series of public meetings will be held in September and October as part of a consultation on the development of a cycling culture for Northern Ireland.

Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy launched a draft Bicycle Strategy last month which is currently out for consultation.

The Minister said: “Cycling is becoming increasingly popular with more people cycling to work or for leisure. In order to deliver a real cycling revolution in Northern Ireland, I want to make cycling an everyday activity where people have the freedom and confidence to travel by bicycle.

“At the end of August I launched the draft bicycle strategy inviting everyone to have a say on the development of a cycling culture in Northern Ireland. A number of public consultation events will be held across Northern Ireland which will allow people to find out more about the draft proposals and put forward their views.”

There is no requirement to register in advance of the public meetings which will be held in Enniskillen, Cookstown, Londonderry, Newry, Ballymoney and Belfast during September and October.

Everyone is welcome to contribute to the consultation which runs until 21 November 2014.

A copy of the draft Cycling Strategy can be downloaded from: http://www.drdni.gov.uk/index/publications/publications-details.htm?docid=9903

Printed copies are also available on request by emailing: cycling.unit@drdni.gov.uk or by phoning 028 9054 0179.

Notes:

1. Public consultation events:

· Cookstown, 24 September 2014 (7.30pm to 9.30pm) in the Rural Community Network Building, 38a Oldtown Street, Cookstown BT80 8EF

· Londonderry, 25 September 2014 (7.00pm to 9.00pm) in St Columb’s Park House, 4 Limavady Road, Londonderry BT47 6JY

· Enniskillen, 30 September 2014 (7.30pm to 9.30pm) in Unit 3, 56a Tempo Road, Enniskillen BT74 6HR

· Antrim, 1 October 2014 (7.30pm to 9.30pm) in Antrim Civic Centre, 50 Stiles Way, Antrim BT41 2UB

· Newry, 2 October 2014 (7.30pm to 9.30pm) in Altnaveigh House, 51 Downshire Road, Newry BT34 1EE

· Ballymoney, 7 October 2014 (7.30pm to 9.30pm) in Ballymoney Town Hall, Townhead Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6BE

· Portadown, 22 October 2014 (7.30pm to 9.30pm) in Portadown Town Hall, 15 Edward Street, Portadown, BT62 3LX

· Belfast, 4 November 2014 (10.00am to 2.00pm) in the Radisson Blu Hotel, The Gasworks, 3 Cromac Place, Belfast BT7 2JB

2. Minister Kennedy launched the draft Bicycle Strategy on 27 August 2014. The Bicycle Strategy, spanning a 25 year horizon, has been developed to help make Northern Ireland a cycling society.

3. A key element of the strategy is a commitment to work with other Government Departments, District Councils, the voluntary and private sectors and other interested parties to ensure that the Strategy is fully and optimally implemented.

4. In May of this year an Issues Paper was produced setting out the direction and key themes for the Bicycle Strategy. The Paper was distributed to key stakeholders and the Regional Development Committee for comment and five regional workshops were held in Omagh, Armagh, Ballymena, Londonderry and Belfast. Feedback received was used to inform finalisation of the draft Bicycle Strategy.

5. Details will be made available nearer the time on the ‘Northern Ireland – Changing Gear’ seminar which is open to the public and will take place on the 16 October in Assembly Buildings Conference Centre at The Spires Centre in central Belfast.