A NEW Bangor cycling group is encouraging like minded bicycle enthusiasts to get into gear and ‘ditch the car’.
Gals on 2 Wheels is the brainchild of the Alliance Party Bangor West council candidate Alison McWhinney who set up the group after joining the Ards and North Down Cycling Campaign Group.
The main aim of Gals on 2 Wheels is to encourage others to ‘ditch the car’ for short journeys on errands in and around Bangor.
The group held their first meeting earlier this month and enjoyed a demonstration by a British cycling coach who ran through general cycling theory before moving on to practice on the road near members’ homes.
Said Alison: “In December I joined the Ards and North Down Cycling Campaign Group (ANDCCG), where group members were encouraged to create sub-groups to work on specific cycling challenges, as well as reaching out to like-minded folk and inviting them to join and develop their skills.
“The aim of the ANDCCG as a wider group is to educate cyclists and drivers about ‘sharing the road’ and engage with the local council and the Department for Infrastructure on improving the cycling infrastructure. We would also like to establish family-friendly cycling events in the borough’s city and town centres.”
She said: “It was there that I was inspired to start ‘Gals on 2 Wheels’ where we as a group are encouraging people to, where possible, ditch the car in favour of enjoying their local community by bike.
“Myself and the other members found that we were already using our bicycles for utility, and with the many different known benefits to cycling, for example in terms of both personal health and environmental concerns, we were keen to build on this interest and commit to developing it further together.
“Gals on 2 Wheels plan to meet fortnightly as the weather improves. I would invite anyone that may be interested to come along and get involved.”
