Northern Ireland

Hundreds of cyclists take part in Belfast Ride On

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor John Finucane (middle) pictured with Liz Loughran, Director of the Safe and Sustainable Travel Division at the Department for Infrastructure (left) and Ashley Hunter, Sustrans Director for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at the Ride on Belfast event, celebrating Bike Week
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor John Finucane (middle) pictured with Liz Loughran, Director of the Safe and Sustainable Travel Division at the Department for Infrastructure (left) and Ashley Hunter, Sustrans Director for Northern Ireland and the Republi Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor John Finucane (middle) pictured with Liz Loughran, Director of the Safe and Sustainable Travel Division at the Department for Infrastructure (left) and Ashley Hunter, Sustrans Director for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at the Ride on Belfast event, celebrating Bike Week

HUNDREDS of cyclists descended on Belfast City Hall today for a special Ride On Belfast event.

Celebrating Bike Week, Ride on Belfast is encouraging people out of their car and onto their bikes, to help promote an active lifestyle through cycle commutes.

Belfast mayor John Finucane said: "It’s fantastic to see so many people ditching their car and hopping on their bike to get into work today. Cycling is a really fantastic way to keep yourself fit and healthy and is a very environmentally friendly and sustainable mode of transport.”

"Throughout my year in office I will be encouraging people to think more carefully about the impact they are having on their surroundings. It is important that we maintain our environment and leave it in a better place for future generations and events such as Ride on Belfast will certainly help us achieve this goal," the Sinn Féin councillor said.

Liz Loughran, director of the Safe and Sustainable Travel Division at the Department for Infrastructure said: "It is great to see the increase in the number of people choosing cycling as an alternative means of travelling in our city. Cycling easily forms part of our fitness regime, helps reduce pollution and congestion improving our environment.

"We all moan when we get stuck in traffic, but around one third of all the journeys we make every day cover less than two miles – distances that could be cycled.

"Cycling is inexpensive, enjoyable and good for our health and wellbeing".

Further information is available at www.rideonbelfast.com