Mayo's first cycle friendly town will boost tourism in county
WESTPORT and the Clew Bay region is set to become Ireland's first cycle friendly visitor destination.
The Westport Cycle Friendly Town initiative will be a major boost for tourism in Mayo and is being promoted by Destination Westport, Westport Chamber of Commerce and Mayo County Council.
They are now looking for service providers, from hotels to restaurants, bike hire businesses to pubs, to sign up and be put on the map on a dedicated website for visiting cyclists.
Michael O'Boyle, who heads up the European-wide cycle friendly employer project in Ireland, gave a presentation to local councillors on the initiative, which captures the EuroVelo Route and Wild Atlantic Way. It includes 'local knowledge' routes, such as the Westport greenway, as well as the Clew Bay Loop, pilgrim routes, lake routes, and the Keenagh loop, for example.
The routes extend out as far as Cong, Finney and Lough Mask in south Mayo, as well as Clare Island and Achill.
Visiting cyclists will be able to plan their trips, with downloadable maps that have details on route distances and elevations, what you'll experience along the way, and soon to be added services such as hospitality.
Until now cycling has been geared around the greenway, he said, but this offers a choice for a longer stay, keeping people in the area.
With bike ownership rising in Ireland, and cycle tourism an enormous nett contributor in Europe, it is now taking hold here, offering a sustainable and active tourism product.
There was a huge advantage in being the first in Ireland to have this initiative.
Councillor Peter Flynn said Westport has always taken pride in being a leader, and this was a fantastic opportunity not just for the town but for the whole county.
Another aspect that could be embraced locally was cycle friendly employers, providing shower facililies and places to leave bikes if employees cycle to work.
Councillor Christy Hyland suggested bike racks in towns for parking bicycles needs to be looked at.