Council represented at launch of inclusive cycling unit in Portumna

Offaly County Council were represented by Independent Cllr Sean O'Brien at the launch of the Hidden Heartlands Regional Inclusive Cycling Unit in Portumna on Friday last.

This initiative will make cycling accessible to children and adults with special needs by using specially designed and adapted cycling products.

"This new unit brings structured and inclusive cycling to children and adults with special needs, many of whom have never had the opportunity to access a bike and thus giving them the freedom, movement and joy of cycling alongside their families and friends," Cllr O'Brien said.

This initiative is delivered by Variety Children's Charity as the HSE's chosen partner under the Recycle Mobility Programme.

It is funded by the Department of Disability, Equality, Integration and Children and the Department of Transport and will serve the counties of Offaly, Westmeath, Laois, North Tipperary, East Galway and Clare.

"This initiative is very welcome to people in Offaly as we have the greenway running right through the county and people with special needs can use the newly adapted equipment with their families," Cllr O'Brien stated.

The Independent Cllr said the specially adapted bikes could be hired from both Dick's Bike Hire and the Tullamore Lions Club for use along the greenway.

"Dick's Bike Hire has a unit based at Ballycommon Bakehouse which has many of these bikes for hire, while Tullamore Lions Club also has a vehicle for use from Kilbride Park.

"I am working with this new unit to have demonstrations of this new equipment at various locations in throughout the county," Cllr O'Brien concluded.