If you listen to the national radio airwaves you would imagine there is an all out war between drivers and cyclists on our roads.
The reality is though that 90 per cent of cyclists are also drivers and perhaps inspired by a desire to bridge the gap in perception fired up by commentators like George Hook on Newstalk Cyclin Ireland have struck an imaginative commercial partnership with online maintenance company Mick’s Garage.com
Members of Cyclin Ireland will be able to claim a 15 per cent discount on purchase through the irish online store between now and September as one of the benefits of membership of the sport’s National Governing Body.
With the number of cars on our roads at an all time high and with the number cycling to work increasing by 42 per cent according to the last census there is little to be gained from antagonism between the two notionally different groups and if this deal serves in some way to shine a light on the fact that all are road users and have to get along then it will be a winner beyond the cheaper deal that cycling ireland members can avail of.
There are now over 22,000 members of Cycling Ireland, four times the number that were signed up in 2010 and a measure of how the sport is keeping pace with the lifestyle benefits, and the tax benefit that have lifted the prevalence of cycling to a new level.
If Dan Martin can keep up his stellar performance at the Tour de France who knows where that number might climb to in the months and years to come.
The recent Ring of Kerry Cycle was a complete sell out and the Great Dublin Bike Ride in September is likely to yield a similar level of engagement.
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Find out more about our next major event looking at the impact of Sport for Social Good in September 2017.
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