Kelly helps launch Bike Week

Cycling legend Sean Kelly joined Ministers Noel Dempsey and Ciarán Cuffe to announce the details of Bike Week 2010 today.

Mr Dempsey said, “I’m delighted that Sean has joined us for this launch. Sean not only lifted the hearts of the nation during the eighties and nineties with his extraordinary cycling achievements but he also raised awareness of cycling generally during his wonderful career.

"Bike Week aims to raise the profile of cycling – for leisure, competition and commuting – not only during the period 13 to 20 June, but throughout the year.”

Mr Cuffe said: "In implementing the National Cycling Policy, of which Bike Week is a key part, we're trying to get more people to choose the bike as their primary mode of transport and to realise the health and fitness benefits of cycling regularly. "

Sean Kelly said he was delighted to be an ambassador for Bike Week.

Kelly said: "Cycling has given me a terrific life and I’m privileged to continue my work for the sport, particularly in association with the An Post Cycle Series. The Series has already visited Sligo this year and will visit Clare, Cork, Meath and Waterford over the Summer months.

"I’m delighted that An Post’s Tour de Burren takes place on 19 June this year, and will be a key Bike Week event."

Bike Week 2010 has an all-island flavour with events in Northern Ireland being delivered though the Department For Regional Development Northern Ireland in association with local councils.

Among ongoing actions or actions taken to date are:

Secondary School Cycle School Week from 10 to 14 May has encouraged students back on their bikes with the incentive of prizes in the form of cycle parking. Details of the winners will be announced during Bike Week.

Third level colleges are being encouraged during the month of May to promote on-campus cycling. DIT has already held a Bike to College Day and Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, UCC and UCD are also getting students back in the saddle.

The CyclizeyourCity competition is up and running at www.cyclizeyourcity.ie and invites anyone interested in photography, graphic design or art to remodel urban landscapes to show what it will be like when bikes rule the world. This competition, with valuable prizes, closes on 1 June.

One4all Bikes4work are arranging to have information units in Dublin City during the week to inform everyone about events and provide information on theBikes4work tax break.

32 local authorities and partners have signed up to run events in their areas during Bike Week.

Breakingnews.ie will have a series of interviews and features on Sean Kelly's Cycling team next week in the run-up to the FBD Rás.