Welcome to the Dublin Cycling Campaign’s ‘Golden Pedal' competition

Why would an employer, a hospital or a university promote cycling?

To develop fitter, endorphin-fuelled people who arrive on time less stressed, take less sick days and don't require a car parking space! The National Cycle Policy Framework plans for 10% of commuting to be by bike by 2020 and we in the Campaign are very keen to see this come about.

Supported by Dublin City Council, Chambers Ireland, and by the Smarter Travel unit of the Department of Transport, Golden Pedal is a competition among organisations in the Greater Dublin Area, posted online up until last Wednesday. Judging was carried out by the Campaign chairperson, using a points system.

There was a huge response to the call for entries: large semi-state bodies, IT manufacturers, and hospitals took part. Though many Government departments and local authorities were contacted, response from that sector was quieter than from private bodies.

What can organisations do to encourage cycling? We were quite amazed with the measures hard-working transport managers are taking. It’s not only Government schemes like Bike Week, European Mobility Week and the Bike to Work tax scheme which have been very influential, though these provided a crucial bottom-line for managers - you can see the long list of ideas & initiatives below. The crucial, basic measures include top-quality transportation plans for the entire organisation, and setting up a Bicycle Users Group (BUG).

Who won?

The result was a tie, at 45 points each, between the top two competitors. One winner impressed us for providing plentiful bikes on loan for staff, a very high ratio of bike-to-car parking spaces, and for the fundamental step of locating their headquarters in an area served by many modes of transport.  Our other winner has seen a 450% growth in the number of people cycling since 2002, keeps up a consistent year-long promotion of cycling, and provides a mentoring system for new cyclists.

The joint winners are-

Google and Children's University Hospital, Temple Street

To receive the award James Bowen, Real Estate & Workplace Services Manager at Google, and Padraig Ryan, Energy and Transport Coordinator at Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, kindly attended the Campaign's Annual Lecture on Monday June 20th (photo above). Many thanks to Padraig, James and all their colleagues.

The top five entrants:

with some more of the measures that impressed us-

Childrens University Hospital, Temple Street

• Temple Street occupies a very tight city-centre site, so the pressure is on to reduce parking pressure.  Padraig has taken a pro-active stance to increase cycling:
• bike maintenance classes
• Doctor Bike sessions
• tools and compressor provided for cyclists.
• Breakfast vouchers

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

• Lunchtime staff cycle led by senior staff
• Exhibition of bikes along with info & maps of cycle routes

Google

• deliberate location in central urban location
• upgrading of a whole carpark to bike parking
• free T-shirts, bike servicing, massages, breakfasts, 
• bike shed clear-out & auction of abandoned bikes for charity
• provision of loaner bikes to any staff who want them
• showers & towels

Mater Hospital

• comprehensive staff survey to see what is wanted
• donation of abandoned bikes to staff
• Campus Cycling Club
• posters showing staff's personal experiences of cycling
• tea/coffee vouchers

Pfizer

• regular BUG meetings; advertising of BUG to staff
• occasional social cycles
• cycle buddies for inexperienced commuters

So many, many thanks to these competitors who've worked so hard to improve the commuting habits of their members & staff! And for taking the time and making the effort to enter our competition.

Finally, we'd reiterate our findings that take-up on Government schemes like Bike Week, European Mobility Week, the NTA Cycle Challenge and the Bike to Work tax scheme has been very strong, which shows the importance of leadership from the powers that be to bring about improvements.  Also, though, we felt that sponsored on-street or classroom training might be used more, as a bit of training can make the streets feel a lot less threatening.

More facts:

Golden Pedal is a search to find the organisation that has done the most for its employees’ commuting and business use cycling 

Run under the aegis of National Bike Week 2011 www.bikeweek.ie

The competition seeks to find and award the organisation that has done the most in the period June 2010 to June 2011 for its employees who commute to work by bicycle and /or use the bike for work purposes. 

It's open to organisations (private and public companies, institutions, public bodies, third-level colleges, civil service departments, etc.)

Organisations should be based in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) – see map below. 

Use of the Dublin Bikes hire scheme is included. 

The winning company will be granted a year's free membership of the Campaign for ALL employees.

The competition is based on the completion of an on-line survey questionnaire comprising about 30 questions. 

The Greater Dublin Area includes the areas of Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, and South Dublin, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow County Councils

Deadline for entries was June 15th 2011 at 5:00pm

Co-ordinator: Will Andrews willdesign[at]esatclear.ie +353 86 6088843 -give me a shout with any queries you may have