It’s two years since Reg Turner got rid of his family’s second car and bought a cargo bike – and he hasn’t looked back since.

Like most parents of young children – his three range in age from 9 to 13 – Reg spends a lot of time ferrying his family to and from school and recreational activities.

Before, he often did those trips in a car. Now, it’s mostly by cargo bike.

“I still use the car on occasions, my wife still has a car, but for 95% of the trips I do now, I do it on the cargo bike. Be it bringing the kids swimming, or collecting them from music, you name it.

“It’s the same issue whether you’re in a cargo bike, or a car, it’s about getting from here to there to there. I can do most of that on the cargo bike,” said the Chairman of Galway Cycling Campaign.

This Sunday, May 12, from 11am to 2pm, Galway Cycling Campaign and Galway City Council are hosting ‘Cargo Bike Festival’ at Claude Toft Park in Salthill beside the Aquarium.

Anyone who has ever considered becoming a single-car family, by embracing a cargo bike, is invited to the event, which is supported by Transport for Ireland.

“We’re trying to show people what they can do with a cargo bike. They can meet people who have got rid of a second car and show them how practical it can be in certain circumstances. It can work,” said Reg.

When Reg was starting out on the cargo bike, he borrowed one from a member of the campaign to try it out for several weeks. He’s offering the same opportunity to anyone interested in making the switch.

“They’re welcome to borrow mine,” he said.

Several things influenced Reg to make the switch, including lifestyle.

“There was an element of trying to do something for the environment. There was an element of ‘can I get my exercise in while I’m ferrying kids here there and everywhere?’.

“And there was an element of the practicality of it. Most of the trips I was doing were short trips to the shops or wherever. I may have used a normal bike and struggled to bring stuff back or I’d have hopped in the car,” he said.