UL Smarter Travel has been busy over the last few weeks running various events and initiatives to kick off the new semester! Orientation week saw thousands of new students brought to the Smarter Travel stall where everyone learned about the great smarter travel services and facilities that are available. Bike sales and repairs were also on offer at the stall.

The UL Journey Planner and 7 Tips For Cycling in UL leaflets were included in all freshers welcome packs, illustrating all the basic essential information for the main Smarter Travel modes on campus. The SU Student Diary included further various information.

As part of the semester start bike sales, St. Mary’s Aid Charity arrived to campus offering refurbished second hand bikes at extremely reasonable prices for students. While the stall was due to set up from 10am on Wednesday in the Main Plaza, a surge of students begun queuing in the plaza from 9:30am to get a place in line. As the St. Marys Aid delivery van arrived near the plaza at 9:50am awaiting the barrier to be removed to allow access to the plaza, the surge of students swarmed the van and the stock of over 35 bikes were sold before they could move any further!

In conjunction with the First Seven Weeks’ Week 1 theme of Getting Around Campus, a campus bike tour was organised highlighting some important landmarks across the campus including various historical information. The tour ended at the UL Clubs and Societies’ recruitment drive.

Our UL Bike Mechanic, Gary Sheehan Mobile Repairs, also returned to provide the weekly free bike mechanic service in the SU Courtyard where he fixes approximately 70 bikes per day.