Belfast's new Lord Mayor, Ryan Murphy, has visited the Cathedral Gardens Active Travel Hub, in support of the 100th annual Bike Week.

Housed in two refurbished shipping containers beside the Ulster University campus, the Active Travel Hub is a Belfast City Council pilot project providing a valuable resource for local communities, workers and visitors, as well as staff and students of the city's further and higher education facilities.

The Hub is supported by the Department for Infrastructure, the Department for Communities, Ulster University and the Public Health Agency and operated by social enterprise Big Loop Bikes and Sustrans NI.

Sustrans provides a regular programme of free activities, training and events including:

• led walks and rides

• on-road cycle training

• journey planning support; and

• e-bike trials.

And every Wednesday, Big Loop Bikes offers:

• free bike health checks

• bike maintenance and repair services

• used bike sales.

Lord Mayor Councillor Ryan Murphy explained: "Even if you're not a regular cyclist, it's the perfect weather to get out and have a cycle during Bike Week. On Friday, there are e-bike trials on offer and you also have the chance to join a group of cycling enthusiasts as part of ‘Ride on Belfast' -travelling from QUB to City Hall. Then on Saturday there's a led ride from Cathedral Gardens to CS Lewis Square at 2pm.

"The Active Travel Hub is part of our Future City Centre Programme, which is all about creating a ‘Bolder Vision' for the city. We're encouraging people to travel actively and sustainably in Belfast because we want to make a positive impact on people's health and well-being and help to protect our environment.

"Cathedral Gardens offers a perfect location – it's so close for communities at the north end of the city centre and all the students attending Ulster University. Beyond Bike Week, there'll be lots of regular events and services on offer, so call in to get tips on walking and cycling routes, get your bike repaired, buy a bike – or get some training to help you cycle more confidently in the city."

Big Loop Bikes is a Turnaround Project social enterprise. Turnaround Project Director Richard Good commented: "Partnering with Belfast City Council to establish this Hub is a really positive stage in our journey to create positive impacts for people and our environment.

"We're really enjoying helping people with advice on cycling, bike repairs and servicing to help people get active and stay active, right in the heart of the city. Bikes are good for people and the environment: you can save money on travel, improve your physical and mental wellbeing, meet people, and reduce pollution. At Big Loop Bikes we take this a step further. A key link in the circular economy, we rescue bikes from landfill, repair and restore them, for the community to enjoy."

Caroline Bloomfield, Sustrans Director commented: "We're delighted to have this opportunity to support people to make a change in how they travel through our programme of led walks and cycles, cycle skills training and information.  Working alongside Big Loop Bikes, our programmes are helping people to overcome barriers and build confidence so they can travel actively - walking and cycling is the most healthy, environmentally friendly and affordable way to travel. This is especially important during the month of June when we are promoting the Active Travel Challenge – join in, change up your routine and try to travel in a more sustainable way!"