cycling scotland newsletter autumn 2010

CYCLING SCOTLAND NEWS

1

Scottish cycling star Mark Beaumont got on his bike on 9th July to encourage families to take part in Scotland’s biggest bike ride, freshnlo Pedal for Scotland.

Taking place on Sunday 12th of

September, freshnlo Pedal for Scotland

will introduce two new rides this year to

ensure cyclists of all ages and abilities

can take part. Cycling Scotland organises

the ride to encourage people to use their

bikes more often by showing that if you

can cycle from Glasgow to Edinburgh in a

matter of hours, then short trips of 5 miles

or less could easily be done on a bike.

Riders can now choose between the

51 Mile Challenge Ride, the 100 Mile

Sportive Ride and the Family Ride,

which is a completely traffi c free ride

based in Glasgow Green.

ISSUE 12 SUMMER 2010

Mark Beaumont gets families geared up for freshnlo Pedal for Scotland

continue on page 3 >

2101 Cycling Scotland Newsletter August_rev4.indd 12101 Cycling Scotland Newsletter August_rev4.indd 1 16/8/10 22:21:1016/8/10 22:21:10

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freshnlo Pedal for Scotland (Cont.)Mark Beaumont will be starting the event

this year, and will be riding a special lap

of the Family Ride to give participants

the chance to ride alongside the record

breaking cyclist who shot to fame after

becoming the fastest person to cycle

around the world.

Mark expressed his enthusiasm for helping

to encourage more people to cycle, saying:

“The freshnlo Pedal for Scotland bike ride

is a great event. It’s fantastic that Cycling

Scotland have revamped the event to

now incorporate the three different rides,

allowing people of all abilities and ages to

take part.

The Family Ride is a leisurely day out for

children and their parents. It’s the perfect

way to introduce children to cycling,

allowing them to practice their skills in a

safe environment. Not only will children

enjoy getting on their bikes on the day

but there is a host of entertainment for

everyone to enjoy at the event”.

The Family Ride will provide a great day

out for parents with young children or

those new to cycling. The ride is free to

enter, and in addition to the joys of traffi c

free cycling there are loads of other great

reasons to come along including:

>> Live music by The Singing Kettle and

other performances

>> 7Stanes perform their bike stunt show

>> Ride with BBC1’s The Man Who Cycled

the World Mark Beaumont

>> Free goody bag

>> Free medal

>> Free certifi cate

>> Free cycle computer

>> Cycle skills course

>> Face painting, juggling, uni-cycling and

other fun activities

>> Stabilisers Off!

Free sessions with qualifi ed trainers

for youngsters who want to ditch their

stabilisers.

To register for any of the freshnlo Pedal for

Scotland rides visit: www.pedalforscotland.org

Cycling Scotland Annual Conference to partner with Cycle Nation in Edinburgh

Cycling Scotland’s annual conference will return this year on 5th November, and will form part of a 2 day conference with Spokes and CTC, as part of the UK-wide series of Cycle Nation Conferences.

The conference will bring together active

travel professionals, campaigners, volunteers

and politicians to learn from each other and

gain a deeper understanding about how best

to develop and promote cycling in Scotland

and the benefi ts that cycling can bring.

Friday 5th of November will feature a day

for professionals at the City Chambers in

Edinburgh, and on Saturday 6th November

there will be a conference aimed at cycle

campaigners.

Ian Maxwell of Spokes, welcomed the

opportunity to work in partnership on the

conference, commenting:

“Campaigning ideas have no boundaries,

and this gathering of cycle professionals

and activists in Edinburgh will be a great

chance to swap examples of what works.


3

Cycling Scotland’s brand new cycling profi ciency scheme for mountain bikers was successfully launched on 5th and 6th of June at the Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup.

As the World Cup attracts the best mountain

bikers in the world to Scotland each year,

it provided an excellent platform to launch

the new training scheme designed to give

people the skills and confi dence they

need to get the most out of the country’s

fantastic mountain bike tracks and trails.

Taster sessions for the course ran all

weekend at the Developing Mountain Biking

in Scotland expo, giving the hordes of

mountain bike fans that fl ocked to the Nevis

Range the chance to get a feel for what Go

Mountain Bike can offer.

The 5-level training course is designed to

help riders develop their riding skills so they

can cope with challenging and technical

terrain, showing them how to cycle

confi dently up and down steep terrain on

dirt tracks and negotiate obstacles.

It also helps riders develop their personal

skills such as planning and navigating

journeys, as well as bike maintenance so

bikers can perform trailside repairs. The

course also includes a section on sharing

the countryside responsibly with other

users, so that mountain bikers, walkers

and horse riders can share outdoor

spaces harmoniously.

The Go Mountain Bike Skills course

attracted around 240 kids and others who

were inspired by the mountain biking elite,

with each receiving a certifi cate.

The course was developed by Cycling

Scotland’s Jim Riach, a founder member

of the Scottish Mountain Bike Leaders

Association (SMBLA) and written by

SMBLA committee member Brian Salvona,

and the Scottish National Downhill

Mountain Bike Coach Chris Ball.

There are now 40 accredited centres

across Scotland with instructors who are

trained to deliver the scheme. Successful

pilots of Go Mountain Bike have taken

place in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Golspie,

Laggan and Strathclyde Park and the

scheme is now available across Scotland.

Cycling Scotland Chief Executive Ian Aitken

commented on the launch, saying:

“Cycling Scotland is really pleased to be able to launch Go Mountain Bike here at the World Cup. There are so many

mountain bike fans here, so it’s great to be able to offer a scheme that can help people move from spectating to participating in an activity which has massive benefi ts in terms of increasing levels of physical activity and contributing towards the growth of an industry which brings in £119 million pounds to the Scottish economy each year.”

The Go Mountain Bike launch was well

received by the media and received coverage

from STV and the Press and Journal.

They are also a really good example of

how the various national organisations

can work together, bringing together CTC,

Cyclenation, Cycling Scotland and Sustrans

to focus on the challenges ahead”.

The professionals’ conference on 5th

November will present a series of informative

and inspiring plenary speakers from a wide

range of different roles within the world of

cycling. Speakers include Marshal Poulton,

Head of Transport for City of Edinburgh

Council, David Middleton, Chief Executive

of Transport Scotland and Phillip Darnton

OBE, Chair of Cycling England.

This year’s conference will be based around 3 main themes:

CYCLING STRATEGY AND POLICY

This session will focus on the latest

developments in local and national cycling

strategy and policy, the implications of

the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland and

implementation of the guidance in Cycling

by Design.

CYCLING EVENTS

This session will look at the economic impact

of major cycling events at a local, regional

and national level as well as the role they

can play in increasing public awareness and

increasing participation rates of cycling.

ACTIVE LIVING AND CYCLING

This session will look closely at the role that

interventions in the workplace, schools and

communities can play in helping increase

rates of cycling. The wider benefi ts that

cycling can bring to settings will also be

discussed in this session.

To register for email updates about the conference

head to: www.cyclingscotlandconference.org

where places for the conference will go on sale at

the end of August.

Go Mountain Bike launched at Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup

Cycling Scotland’s Alasdair Marshall administers a Go Mountain bike taster session.


44

Cycling Action Plan for Scotland published along with new fundingA new government plan to make Scotland a nation of cyclists was unveiled during Bike Week this summer. The Scottish Government published the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS) on the 25th of June, laying out its plans to get more Scots on their bikes and leaving the car at home.

The plan sets out a number of actions

for stakeholders and local authorities in

Scotland to carry out and it is supported by

new funding for projects covering new cycle

infrastructure, children’s cycle training and

grants for employers to improve facilities for

those cycling to work.

CAPS was launched by Transport,

Infrastructure and Climate Change Minister

Stewart Stevenson MSP while opening a

newly completed section of the National Cycle

Network between Kincardine and Culross in

Fife. Stevenson commented: “Scotland has the

toughest climate change legislation anywhere

in the world and as our climate change delivery

plan made clear we need to decarbonise

almost all road transport by 2050.

This means persuading more motorists to get

out of their cars and getting more people to

cycle – that’s why we have set the challenging

target for 2020 that 10% of all journeys taken

in Scotland be made by bike.”

NEW PROJECTS AND FUNDING

£3.9 million of new funding for cycling initiatives

was announced by the Scottish Government

alongside the publication of CAPS.

INFRASTRUCTURE

£2.5 million of investment will be made in

cycling infrastructure. The money will be

administered by Sustrans for improvements to

the National Cycle Network in Scotland, with

an emphasis on connecting existing sections

of the network and providing short links to

create more joined-up cycleways. £500,000

will also go to Glasgow City Council for its

Connect2 project, which on completion will

allow cyclists to travel between the city centre,

the Clyde riverside promenade, Kelvingrove

Park and the West End on traffi c free routes.

GRANT SCHEMES

£150,000 will be allocated to a loan support

scheme to help private businesses improve

workplace cycling facilities. The fund is

intended to support Cycling Scotland’s Cycle

Friendly Employer scheme, and will be run in

partnership with the Energy Saving Trust.

Businesses will be able to apply for an

interest free loan to upgrade workplace

facilities such as bike parking, lockers or

showers so that they are able to meet the

Cycle Friendly Employer criteria. This will be

run in tandem with the existing small grants

scheme for Cycle Friendly Employer that

is run in conjunction with Healthy Working

Lives, which allows organisations to apply for

grants for promotion and incentive measures.

Both of these funding sources will be open

for applications from Autumn 2010 - check

out www.cyclingscotland.org for application

forms and funding criteria later this year.

CYCLE TRAINING

£300,000 will be invested in children’s

cycle training. Cycling Scotland will take a

coordinating role for the national delivery

of all three levels of cycle training, and

will work with Road Safety Scotland, the

Scottish Government and key stakeholders

to establish a new Cycle Training Standards

and Delivery Support Group. This new group

will formulate a plan by the end of 2010 to

deliver a coordinated approach to training, an

increase in the number of volunteers available

to deliver training and a support network for

the volunteers and Local Authorities offering

the three levels of training.

Mairi Blair, assistant director of Road Safety

Scotland, welcomed the development,

commenting: “Road Safety Scotland fully

endorses and supports the establishment

of a Cycle Training Standards and Delivery

Support Group in Scotland.

A stronger focus on a more co-ordinated

approach to child cycle training in Scotland

is necessary in order to provide the level of

support needed by local delivery partners in

the provision of good quality training delivered

by well-supported and trained volunteers.

As a key stakeholder, RSS will ensure the

Group’s commitment to maintaining road

safety priorities and links to Curriculum for

Excellence across the cycle training levels.”

To download and read the full Cycling Action

Plan for Scotland, go to www.scotland.gov.uk

Children’s Cycle Training receives new funding as part of CAPS.


5

During the winter months the number of cyclists on the streets drops sharply, but Cycling Scotland’s Education and Training Offi cer Chris Johnson explains why he thinks cycling to work is worth sticking with even during the Scottish winter…

There are several key benefi ts attributed to

cycle commuting - health, environment, cost

and fun. As I sit contemplating this on a fi ne

summer’s day (albeit a wet one), it’s simply a

matter of putting these in order.

Initially coming to cycling via the sport route it

is clear that fun was my priority. By now with

an offi ce based desk job and a well developed

appreciation of cakes I’m probably most

driven by the health angle (that cyclists enjoy

bodies that are 10yrs younger also appeals

to my vanity). Cost is always a nice thought,

but I still pay for the pleasure of owning a car.

Environment is a useful ally as carbon counting

is what motivates my previously bike-phobic

partner, but it doesn’t directly make me feel

smug.

So, all good. But come winter time with its

dark streets, the penetrating cold and slimy

drizzle it can be harder to stay focused on

these benefi ts.

Luckily, I fi nd there is additional benefi t so great it dwarfs them all: practicality.

Cycle commuting in built up areas is generally

by far the quickest, easiest and most satisfying

way of getting around town. I’ve tried leaving

the offi ce at 5pm in December, shivering

at the bus stop while passing taxis spray

water all over the pavements and it was a bit

miserable. The 44 bus, covering a journey of

just three and a half miles takes an astonishing

forty minutes, and going from shivering on

the streets to collectively sweating under all

my layers in a dour huddle didn’t increase my

enjoyment much either.

I have given the driving thing a go too. Other

people make it look so appealing: you chill

out, listen to the radio, relax in your own

space, glide along the city streets, but even

slower than the 44 bus! Arriving home forty

minutes late with dinner spoilt by raised stress

levels is more the reality, and getting out of

bed 20minutes early to defrost the windows

is never fun.

Conversely, riding a bike is quick, direct, and a great way to remove the stress of the day.

Being active means you barely feel the cold,

and it’s cheap and easy to equip yourself with

the right accessories. Keeping warm and

being seen are the key elements. I attach a

quality set of lights to my winter bike, which

also has a set of full length mudguards. My

local bike store stocked a good range and

gave me quality advice based on my (thrifty)

budget.

I am also immensely proud of my yet-to-be-

patented ‘disco helmet’. When I noticed my

local supermarket was selling emergency

fl ashing LEDs at value prices I snapped them

up and strapped them to my helmet. These

have two purposes, as a back up should my

main lights fail, but also the front light allows

me to make eye contact with drivers and

ensure my safe passage. A yellow vest over

my regular jacket completes the effect, and

folds away easily to take up no room.

Choosing clothing has never been a problem

either. On a bike your hands get cold, your

feet get cold, and your head/neck can be

cold. Otherwise, as long as you are moving

you are generating warmth and there is no

reason why your regular winter clothes aren’t

enough. It’s easy to pick up a pair of fl eecy

builders glovers, some waterproof overshoes

/ thick socks, and a cyclists buff which can

be worn around the neck, or under a helmet.

If it is raining then waterproof trousers are a

handy accessory.

I am fortunate enough to have a designated

‘winter bike’ so maintenance is easy – I give

it a service in October, then just throw soapy

water over it occasionally and keep the

transmission lubricated, and before I know it

spring is here and after a proper clean it can

hibernate through summer again.

Frosty roads can require a bit of extra caution,

and it is often worthwhile using different

roads if you know your regular route will not

have been treated. Most of Scotland’s big

cities now have excellent maps showing

various cycle routes and roads, so fi nding an

alternative isn’t too tricky.

There is no reason why winter should be a time to hang up your wheels, all the benefi ts are still there, and as you speed home after a long day, arriving fresh and relaxed, you can pity those stuck in traffi c.

Why I keep on cycling during the winter… by Chris Johnson

Cycling Scotland’s Chris Johnson on his commute to work.


66

Scottish Gas in Edinburgh has become

the biggest private sector workplace

to achieve the Cycle Friendly Employer

Award to date. This is a fantastic

award for the organisation which has

demonstrated a clear commitment to

encouraging more staff to cycle to work.

The 750 employees at the site, which

hosts the organisation’s headquarters and

a customer contact centre, benefi t from

improved, secure cycle storage facilities,

ample shower and changing provisions, as

well as a host of incentives and promotional

activity to support their commute to work.

Scottish Gas has collaborated with “A Better

Way to Work”, a project run by the Bike

Station to promote cycling, as well as walking

and public transport, as a convenient means

of commuting to and from work.

The Bike Station has run Dr Bike sessions

on site, to help employees get their bikes in

good working order. The service was well-

used by regular cyclists and also encouraged

many people to dig their bikes out of the

shed and cycle in to work especially for the

Dr Bike sessions. By giving their unused

bikes a new lease of life it is hoped this will

encourage staff to cycle to work more often.

A Better Way to Work staff were also on

hand to encourage employees to try out the

demonstration bikes that they brought along

to remind people how much fun cycling can

be - one Scottish Gas employee got on a bike

for the fi rst time in 26 years. Employees can

also benefi t from free cycle training, the free

loan bike service, as well as other incentives

to make an active journey to work.

Wendy Graham, Travel Choice Advisor with

A Better Way to Work said “We are delighted

to have had the opportunity to work with

Scottish Gas. The enthusiasm shown by the

organisation and their employees has been

tremendous”.

Kevin Roxburgh, Managing Director of

Scottish Gas said: “The health and wellbeing

of our employees is high on the agenda at

Scottish Gas, so to be recognised as the

largest private sector workplace to receive

the Cycle Friendly Employer Award is a

signifi cant achievement for us.

“We are constantly looking for ways to

encourage staff to adopt a healthier lifestyle,

from free bike repairs to Zumba classes,

as part of our commitment to the Healthy

Working Lives programme.”

Scottish Gas not only promotes the benefi ts

of cycling to staff members; through

their Generation Green programme the

organisation has demonstrated its social

responsibility credentials by encouraging

Scottish schools and communities to

recognise the benefi ts of cycling as part of

an overall approach to green living.

Generation Green makes sustainability fun

and engages children about environmental

issues. Schools register with the programme

online at www.generationgreen.co.uk and

earn green leaves through completing green

tasks, such as setting up a green notice

board, or conducting an energy saving

survey. These leaves can then be redeemed

for educational rewards from birdboxes to

bicycles and equipment. Since its launch in

May 2009, Scottish primary schools working

towards Cycle Friendly School Awards have

already benefi ted greatly from the Generation

Green programme, which shares many of

the messages around the benefi ts of healthy

and sustainable living.

Cycling Scotland is greatly impressed

with the ongoing work at Scottish Gas to

establish cycling as a mainstream travel

choice that can deliver great benefi ts not just

to the employer, but also the employee and

wider community.

Cycling Scotland’s Chief Executive, Ian

Aitken applauded Scottish Gas for taking

the initiative.

Organisations and schools can register

online for Cycle Friendly Awards at www.

cyclingscotland.org.

L-R: Livia Dyckhoff, Training Coordinator at Scottish Gas; Kevin Whitehead from Dr Bike and John Young, Health & Safety Co-ordinator at Scottish Gas.

Scottish Gas awarded for commitment to cycling

European Mobility Week is an awareness raising campaign aiming at promoting the use of public transport, cycling and walking and encouraging European cities to promote these modes of transport and to invest in new infrastructure.

Activity will be taking place in cities all around Europe including here

in Scotland. Perth will be taking part by having a series of stalls in

the town centre promoting active and sustainable travel, as well as

Rickshaws transporting members of the public and a ‘in town without

my car day’. Glasgow also has activity planned - check the website

for more details.

European Mobility Week will take place from the 16 to the 22 September.

For more information visit www.mobilityweek.eu

European Mobility Week 16 - 22 September


7

Developing Mountain Biking conference set for OctoberA new project set up to coordinate the development of Scotland’s burgeoning mountain biking industry will hold a conference this autumn to bring together all stakeholders in this diverse sector.

Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland is calling on professionals from the

tourism, outdoor access and sports development sectors to attend their fi rst

annual conference on October 28th. The event will be held at the Perth Concert

Hall and will focus on identifying ways to capitalise upon the considerable

success of mountain biking as an activity in Scotland. Mountain biking tourism

in Scotland brings £119million pounds per annum to the Scottish economy

according to a study commissioned by Scottish Enterprise. The sector employs

3470 full time staff and the 7stanes Mountain Bike Centres in the south of

Scotland generate £9million to the Scottish economy and are visited by over

400,000 people each year.

The conference will feature a keynote speech from record breaking round-the-

world cyclist Mark Beaumont, alongside presentations from a variety of experts

involved in all aspects of mountain biking. Scottish Minister for Public Health and

Sport Shona Robison MSP will be opening the conference.

The conference is intended as a two-way exchange of information featuring

presentations from speakers whilst also capturing the opinions and ideas of the

delegates as to how the project should move forward over the coming years.

Delegates will get the opportunity to raise their questions to a select panel of

some of the most infl uential voices within mountain biking in Scotland. There will

also be workshops for all attendees based on the 3 key strands of the strategic

framework – increasing participation, sporting development & success and

tourism and economic development.

For regular updates and to pre-register for the conference, please visit www.developingmountainbikinginscotland.com

Bike Events Scotland is Scotland’s most

comprehensive cycling events calendar.

Developed by Cycling Scotland, CTC, Forestry

Commission Scotland, Sustrans and Visit

Scotland, the calendar diplays hundreds of

cycling events across Scotland of all kinds.

Here’s a selection of upcoming events from the calendar, with hundreds more online:

MOUNTAIN BIKING

10hr Mountain Bike Marathon

Based in the North East of Scotland this race is an endurance format with teams and individuals

competing to see who can complete the most laps in 10 hours.

OFF ROAD CYCLING

The ChaseA 30-40 mile off-road duathlon in the stunning Trossachs countryside combining two 12 mile cycling stages and a 6 to 10 mile

orienteering challenge on foot, plus free food, drink and entertainment at the medieval-style after event party.

FAMILY

Katrine Colours CycleEnjoy the autumn at Loch Katrine with the whole family. A 12 mile

cycle around Trossachs pier, cycle hire and boat trip included.

BEGINNER

Women Only CTC Ayrshire Ride12-15mile Women only CTC beginners ride starting at Fenwick

War Memorial.

GROUP RIDESpokes SundayThis monthly group ride takes you on a free guided bike ride along

cycle paths and quiet roads to destinations in The Lothians, Fife and The Borders.

AUG

2010

21

SEP

2010

25

OCT

2010

16

NOV

2010

6

DEC

2010

5


88

This year’s Team Green Britain Bike Week took place from the 19th to the 27th of June and was a huge success in Scotland. Scottish participation numbers increased by 85% from last year, with 72,000 participants taking part in various events from beginner and family rides to long distance rides, competitions, bike to work days and bike breakfasts.

Other Bike Week opportunities included free

cycle safety checks and charity rides as well

as fairs and exhibitions in cities and towns

across Scotland. Events were organised by

individuals, companies, charities and other

organisations, and over 270 events across

Scotland were listed on the Bike Week

website. This year also saw various events

leading up to Bike Week, including smaller

rides and training sessions as well as bigger

events such as the Fort William Mountain

Bike Cup.

Cycling Scotland worked in partnership with

Bike Week HQ and Team Green Britain, and

headed up the PR campaign in Scotland, co-

organised the workshops in Glasgow and Perth

to help new event organisers plan their events,

arranged a national radio advertising campaign

for Scotland and attended events throughout

the week. Cycling Scotland teamed up with

the Clan Cycle Stunt Team to create a cycle

zone as part of the Royal Highland Show, with

thousands of visitors fl ocking to see the stunt

shows and have a go on a cycle skills course

over the fi nal four days of Bike Week.

Most successful Bike Week yet

Bike Club successfully launched in ScotlandBike Club, a program that offers support

and funding to enable cycling-based

learning experiences among children and

young people, was successfully launched

on the 30th of June in Glasgow City

Chambers by Dr. Harry Burns, Scotland’s

Chief Medical Offi cer.

Bike Club uses cycling to create opportunities

for learning and involvement among children,

young people and their families. Small

grants are available to youth clubs, young

people’s groups and schools seeking to

establish cycling-related activities within their

communities.

The programme was set up through

cooperation between community learning

and health experts ContinYou, UK Youth

and CTC, the national cyclists’ organisation.

Bike Club’s expansion to Scotland has been

made possible by funding from Asda’s Pedal

Power campaign. At the launch Dr. Burns

spoke to key decision-makes within youth

work, education, community development

and transport policy sectors, about the

public health challenges facing Scotland,

and identifying cycling as an ideal way

for children and young people to develop

healthy lifestyles.

Speaking at the launch event, he said:

“Cycling gives you the opportunity to develop

self-esteem. It seems to me that beginning

this project in Scotland will give the young

people the opportunity to build that self-

esteem. I am very happy to do this today and

support this.”

Scotland’s two Bike Club development offi cers

Victoria Leiper and Amy Hickman support Bike

Club applicants around Glasgow, Edinburgh,

Falkirk, Fife, East Lothian, Midlothian and

West Lothian. Bike Club’s immediate plans

include organising local networking events.

The fi rst community cycling event, which took

place in Kelvingrove Park on 28th July, was

attended by Formula 1 legend Nigel Mansell,

as a pit stop on his UK-wide charity ride for

UK Youth.

The event also featured the 7 Stanes stunt

display team, bike demos from FreeWheel

North, Dr Bike sessions and a North Shore

course from the Bike Station.

Cycling Scotland & The Clan attended the Royal Highland Show during Bike Week.

Nigel Mansell on his charity ride for UK Youth during Bike Week.West Lothian. Bike Club s immediate plans West Lothian. Bike Club’s immediate plans

gfor UK Youth during Bike Week.for UK Youth during Bike Week


9

This year’s Skyride will be taking place on Sunday the 22nd of August in Glasgow.

The event route will take riders along the River Clyde and is hoping

to attract thousands of people to take the unique opportunity to take

their bikes for spin round the city centre without a car in sight.

The Skyride route will be transformed into a traffi c-free zone for the

day which will give cyclists the opportunity to enjoy the city on two

wheels with friends and family. Skyride is taking place across the UK

in 12 locations in 10 cities, and each event will also have bike-based

entertainment such as music, fancy dress and sporting challenges.

As part of Skyride a series of local rides have been organised by

British Cycling, Scottish Cycling and Glasgow Life.

The Skyride Local rides are small group cycle rides which will also be

taking place around the UK in the run up to and after the main Skyride

events in Scotland. These group rides vary in levels (beginners to

experienced riders) and are designed to encourage regular biking.

Skyride Local events are taking place all over Glasgow, with a variety

of routes and distances to suit any level of ability.

Campsie & City viewsRide : WellThis 19.4 mile route heads north

and uses a mixture of terrains -

along canal paths, a few roads and even an

old railway line.

Pollok Park RideRide : EasyAn easy, totally traffi c-free, out-

and-back riverside cruise from the

futuristic Science Centre in the west to the

People’s Palace at Glasgow Green.

Canals GaloreRide : SteadyOne for the water lover, this 10.6

mile ride showcases the historic

and picturesque canal network centred

around Kirkintilloch the “Canal Capital of

Scotland”.

River Clyde RideRide : EasyTotally traffi c-free, fl at riding and

tarmac paths make this leisurely

six-miler suitable for beginners and families

on all kinds of bike.

Visit to Campsie GlenRide : StrongUndulating route from Kelvingrove

Park, initially following the River

Kelvin then out through Maryhill and the

suburbs of Bearsden and Milngavie over the

moor to Strathblane.

East End ParksRide : SteadyA route linking up three of

Glasgow’s parks in the East,

starting from Glasgow Green, the route

heads on North East to one of the east ends

fi nest parks, Alexandra Park.

Four Corners of the ParkRide : StrongA ride through both rural and urban

parts of the city passing through

Ruchill Park, Springburn Park, Hogganfi eld

Park and Tollcross Park. A great opportunity

to see more of what Glasgow has to offer for

those who like an adventure.

Riverside RambleRide : WellThis 19mile ride uses the famous

Clyde as it’s focal point, following

the south bank west to Renfrew, before cross

the river at the Erskine Bridge and following

National Cycle Network Route 7 back along

the northern bank of the river.

AUG

2010

29

SEP

2010

26

OCT

2010

3

OCT

2010

10

OCT

2010

24

SEP

2010

5

SEP

2010

12

SEP

2010

19

Skyride returns to Glasgow

Check out the Skyride Local rides happening over the coming months.


1010

The Tour de France started in Rotterdam this year, and it came as something of a culture shock to be at un Grand Départ de la Grande Boucle and to be surrounded by bikes.

I did mean to write that. I mean, yes, you

have the 200 riders who compete in the

Tour - and yes, they do so on bikes - but

they exist within the hermetically sealed

bubble of the Tour de France.

For those of us who work on the race - in

my case as a journalist - the experience

of the Grand Départ is invariably one

of negotiating horrendously traffi c-

clogged streets, banking on our media

accreditation - or the sticker that attests

to that on the windscreen - gaining us

access to the inner sanctum.

In other words, the prevailing experience of

covering, and indeed of being at the Tour

de France, can be one of being stuck in,

or surrounded by, petrol-guzzling cars and

other vehicles.

Ironic, isn’t it?

On this year’s Tour, the impression

was reinforced when, on one stage, I

was privileged enough to be offered a

helicopter ride. It was an opportunity I

couldn’t pass up - we’ve all seen the aerial

shots of the riders in full fl ight against

the backdrop of the beautiful French

countryside, or of the peloton splitting in

two as it negotiates a roundabout.

But the experience was a little

disappointing, for two reasons.

First, it didn’t offer a very good view

of the race - we were too high, way

above the French TV helicopters, who

(understandably enough) desire the best

vantage point. Second, from the air, the

Tour de France didn’t even look like a

bike race - it looked like a car race, with

hundreds of cars and motorbikes in front,

and hundreds more behind a tiny, just

about visible, pack of cyclists.

Back to Rotterdam, though. There, as in any

Dutch city, there were bikes everywhere,

and it was easy to see why. The facilities

for cyclists are remarkably good - roads

seem to be an after-thought to cycle lanes,

rather than the other way around. And at

junctions and roundabouts cyclists have

right of way over cars - a fact that, again

ironically, almost caught out several offi cial

Tour vehicles.

Visiting Rotterdam for the Grand Départ

was Paul Bush, the chief operating offi cer

of EventScotland. Bush also attended the

Grand Départ in London, when the Tour

started there in 2007, and it had given him

an idea: why not bid to bring the Tour to

Scotland?

Slowly, that idea has been worked upon,

with Bush meeting Christian Prudhomme,

the Tour director, and receiving a positive

response. It was Prudhomme, in fact,

who fi rst fl agged up the suggestion to

the media, mentioning Scotland’s interest

in hosting the Tour in the same breath as

the other countries he claims are bidding,

including Budapest, Qatar, Japan, Quebec

and Estonia.

The big question, of course, is, why

would you want to bring the Tour de

France to Scotland?

For many cities or countries that bid for the

Grand Départ, it seems to be primarily a

marketing and money-making exercise.

With a worldwide TV audience of two billion,

and with the country itself forming the

backdrop to the action, there can be few,

if any, more effective ways of showcasing

your country.

But when London bid for the 2007 start - a

prologue in London, then a fi rst road stage

to Canterbury - they did so under a different

premise, and one that initially struck the

Tour organisers as quirky and original.

Ken Livingstone, the then mayor, said that

he wanted the Tour to promote cycling. Not

cycling as a sport, but as a participation

activity, and means of transport, in the

city. “My vision for London is a city where

increasing levels of cycling will create a

more sustainable transport system and

improve the health of Londoners,” said

Livingstone when London’s successful

bid was confi rmed. “I am certain that the

Tour de France will inspire people to take

Would bringing the Tour de France to Scotland get more people cycling?


11

up cycling to get around London or as a

leisure pursuit.”

The Tour de France responded by saying

that they had never heard that one before!

Indeed, I remember being in Strasbourg, for

the start of the 2006 race, and attending a

dinner at which the Tour organisers spoke

glowingly of London’s ambitions to use

their race to promote everyday bicycle

use - they seemed delighted by it. Why

other cities haven’t traditionally had similar

ambitions, I don’t know.

It could be because, in many European

towns and cities, cycling is already very

popular and culturally more acceptable

than in the UK. It could also be because

the Tour de France is woven so deeply into

the fabric of mainland Europe that it is seen

purely as a major sporting event, with no

real spin-offs (other than the marketing

opportunities afforded the places it visits).

But, whether by accident or design, you

could certainly argue that the Tour did

have a positive and lasting effect on

cycling in London.

Cycling as a means of transport has

increased exponentially, facilities are

improving, and the city’s fi rst mass bike-hire

scheme, based on Paris’s Vélib’ scheme,

has just been launched.

London wants the Tour back - and the

feeling is mutual, with Prudhomme, who,

three years on, continues to enthuse about

the “magical” London visit, promising that

it’s a question of “when,” not “if.” It has

been rumoured that a 2014 return is likely.

As for Scotland, Bush is aiming to bid

for a two- or three-day Grand Départ

some time between 2014 and 2020.

And, as with London, he seems determined

to make the bid as much about promoting

cycling as it will, inevitably, be a marketing

and money-making exercise.

“The Tour coming to Scotland would have

huge economic impact (its two days in the

south of England in 2007 generated an

estimated £123m) and phenomenal media

value,” said Bush in Rotterdam. “Being in

Holland, and seeing the number of people

on bikes, and the hundreds of thousands

watching for free, makes you also realise

how the Tour can be a fantastic way of

promoting cycling, health, fi tness and

sustainability.”

Very true. And if there is one lesson to take

from London, it is that the Tour organisers

might be initially surprised by, but very

receptive to, a proposal that places the

humble promotion of cycling and the bike

at its very heart.

A new website that will enable professionals to fi nd information and share good practice for the development of path and active travel networks is due to be launched this autumn.

The site is being developed by the Scottish

Access Technical Information Network

(SATIN), which is a consortium of active

travel organisations comprised of Cycling

Scotland, Paths for All, Sustrans, SNH,

Forestry Commission Scotland, Falkirk

Council and a wide range of regional and

local stakeholder groups.

Networks and routes are an essential factor

in getting more people to use active travel

modes such as walking and cycling more

often, and SATIN was formed to ensure

that good practice in the development of

these networks can be shared nationwide.

The website will offer comprehensive

guidance on the full delivery process,

with information on design guidelines,

funding streams, technical aspects

such as drainage, surfaces and signing,

construction techniques and maintenance

schedules to provide a ‘cradle to grave’

guide on delivering outdoor access and

active travel networks to the highest

standard.

The SATIN working group will meet in

Inverness for the 3rd project meeting of

2010 to discuss detailed content for the

website before the site is launched later

in the year. If you think your organisation

would benefi t from being involved in the

SATIN project, you can apply to become

a member organisation by emailing Peter

Leslie at [email protected]

New website for path and active travel network practitioners to be launched soon


Noticeboard

12

Visit our website atwww.cyclingscotland.org

Cycling Scotland

24 Blythswood Square, Glasgow G2 4BGNewsletter written by Andrew Pankhurst and Janika Fuchs.

Contact

12

‘Give Me Cycle Space’

campaign - Match Funding

for 2011

Cycling Scotland is running the ‘Give Me

Cycle Space’ campaign again in 2011,

and is seeking local authorities interested

in match funding the activity in their area.

The highly successful social marketing

campaign aims to break down barriers

to cycling to school by using a mixture

of outdoor advertising to create ‘Cycle

Friendly Zones’ around schools, which

are designed to encourage drivers to give

children space and extra consideration so

they can cycle to school safely. Cycling

Scotland has delivered the campaign in

partnership with Glasgow, Edinburgh,

East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire,

North Lanarkshire, Moray, Orkney, East

Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire

and Fife councils in the last two years,

and is now accepting match funding

proposals from local authorities for

the 2011 campaign. Contact Andrew

Pankhurst on 0141 229 5354 or

[email protected]

to fi nd out more.

ing

New funding available for community cycling projectsCycling Scotland has new funding streams available to help community groups implement cycling projects in their local area.

Cycle Friendly Communities FundThe Cycle Friendly Communities Fund will be open for applications from August 2010, and is set up to fund projects that promote health gain, support the community, support individual development, promote cycling and demonstrate innovation. Grants of up to £5000 are available for individual projects. Check www.cyclingscotland.org for criteria and application forms.

Online Journey Planning Data CollectionCycling Scotland is also seeking expressions of interest from community groups to assist with data collection on local cycling routes and infrastructure for the online cycle journey planner www.cyclestreets.net Contact [email protected] for more information.

andaa

iiintsScottish Local Authority

Cycle Forum to be re-instated

Cycling Scotland has responded to calls

from Scottish local authorities to re-instate

the national cycling forum for local authority

offi cers. The forum played a key role in helping

local authority staff responsible for cycling to

communicate with each other, and also with

key stakeholders and national government.

The forum has not met since around 2004

and was indentifi ed during Cycling Scotland’s

recent best value review as something that

stakeholders felt should be re-introduced

to improve communications between key

players in active travel. The forum will be held

before the end of 2010, and arrangements for

the timing and regularity of future meetings

will be decided at the initial forum.

Cycling Scotland Membership

Cycling Scotland has 34 member

organisations from a wide range of stakeholder

groups. Membership is open to additional

organisations - contact Linda Peters on 0141

229 5350 for more details.

Making Cycling Mainstream

The Making Cycling Mainstream education

package has been presented successfully

to groups of transport professionals from

local authorities, consultants and students.

Building on this success this year Cycling

Scotland is seeking to work directly with

Local Authorities/National Parks to provide

support in the form of more bespoke training

days located within your local area. To learn

more contact Peter Leslie at peterleslie@

cyclingscotland.org or visit our website at

www.cyclingscotland.org to download the

application for support.

hipp

Cycle Hire in LondonLondon Mayor Boris Johnson unveiled a new cycle hire scheme in London on 29th July, hoping to emulate the success of schemes such as Velib in Paris. There are currently 5000 hire bikes available from special docking stations across the city, and over 12,000 people have already signed up to the scheme. Users pay a £1 access fee to use the bikes, which are then free to use for the fi rst half an hour, then charged in hourly increments from there onwards. Find out more about the scheme at www.tfl .gov.uk

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cycling scotland newsletter autumn 2010

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