South Dublin’s Mayor, Emma Murphy, was presented with her official bicycle by the Dublin Cycling Campaign on Monday evening, 7th of November 2022, at a ceremony on the Dodder Greenway Bridge at Templeogue. The ceremony was also the launch of the Light Up Your Bike Campaign, a joint campaign by Dublin Cycling Campaign and South Dublin County Council.

The Mayor’s bicycle was handed over by the Chairperson of Dublin Cycling Campaign, Ellen Cullen. The Mayor’s bicycle was funded by Dublin Cycling Campaign and its supporters and was provided at a discounted price by the Cycle Superstore in Tallaght https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/home.asp . The bicycle is a fold-up Brompton, which can be folded up quickly and neatly for carrying on public transport, in taxis etc. and is easily carried indoors for improved security.

The official bicycle provides the Mayor with a sustainable mode of transport that is efficient, healthy and emissions-free. As we face up to the climate crisis the bicycle is a visible manifestation of a new era where officials in authority lead by example in efforts to tackle climate change. The fold-up bicycle is particularly suited to South Dublin where distances that could be challenging on a bicycle can be done in a multi-modal fashion using a combination of public transport and cycling.

Mayor Emma Murphy said: “Tá an-áthas orm an rothar seo a ghlacadh ó Fheachtas Rothaíochta Átha Chliath agus táim ag tnúth le casadh ar mhuintir Átha Chliath Theas nuair a bheidh mé ag rothaíocht timpeall Cnoc Liamháin agus áiteanna eile sa Chontae. I’m delighted to accept this bicycle from the Dublin Cycling Campaign Group and I look forward to meeting the people of Knocklyon and other places in the County as I put it to good use. It will certainly be handy on my regular trips around the County as I put the versatility of the folding bike to good use. I also intend inviting all Councillors to take the Mayor’s Bicycle out into their communities for charity events and to promote cycling in the County.”

Outgoing Mayor, Peter Kavanagh, thanked Dublin Cycling Campaign for the use of the bike during his term as Mayor and he said that moving around by bicycle enabled him to lead the way on active transport in the County.

Ellen Cullen, Chairperson of Dublin Cycling Campaign, said: “We’re delighted to present the Mayor with her bicycle. Cycling is a very important part of the battle against climate change and a significant contributor to improving people’s health. We appreciate the leadership of Councillors like Emma Murphy who are happy to travel by bicycle, and the work being done by South Dublin County Council and its Cycle South Dublin Programme to make cycling safer and more attractive for people of all ages and abilities.”

The Light Up Your Bike Campaign is an annual event run at this time of the year by the Dublin Cycling Campaign in association with Local Authorities and An Garda Síochána with the assistance of the Roads Safety Authority who donated this year’s lights. Ally Menary, Road Safety Officer with South Dublin County Council, said “With the nights drawing in earlier, cyclists should ensure that they have working lights on their bicycles. Lights are not just a legal requirement but also an essential part of staying safe on the bike”