CyCLInG SCOTLAnD nEWS

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freshnlo Pedal for Scotland is now open for registration for 2010 and this year new ride options mean cyclists of any level of experience can get involved. Taking place on Sunday 12th September, Scotland’s biggest bike ride returns with an additional two new rides.

The annual Glasgow to Edinburgh bike ride

attracted a record 7000 riders last year,

and Cycling Scotland are hoping to attract

even more this year by expanding the event

and offering three different bike rides.

ISSUE 11 SPRING 2010

freshnlo Pedal for Scotland - Scotland’s biggest bike ride gets even bigger

continued on page 2 >

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Pedal for Scotland 2008 was named the best Leisure Sporting Event of the year at the Scottish Event Awards back in September 2009, and also scooped the award for best overall event, claiming the Event management Grand Prix award.

Cycling Scotland’s Glasgow to Edinburgh bike ride beat off the The Homecoming Scottish Cup Final and the 18th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships to claim the prize for the best Sports Event of the year. The 2008 Pedal for Scotland marked the event’s tenth anniversary, and set a new record for participation in a cycling event in Scotland, attracting a record 5700 riders to make it the biggest bike ride ever to take place. The Pedal for Scotland team would like to thank all the participants and staff from the 2008 ride for making it such a great event.

Pedal for Scotland 2008 wins at the Scottish Event Awards

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CHALLEnGE rIDE The classic freshnlo Pedal for Scotland

Challenge Ride is a 51 mile ride between

Glasgow and Edinburgh. The event has a

capacity of 9000 riders this year, so book

early to avoid disappointment.

SPOrTIvE rIDE The brand new freshnlo Pedal for Scotland

Sportive Ride is a 100 mile timed ride through

the Southern Uplands, taking a longer route

between Glasgow and Edinburgh for a

serious challenge.

fAmILy rIDE The freshnlo Pedal for Scotland Family Ride

is a brand new FREE event for families with

young children and those new to cycling,

with a traffi c free off-road route around

Glasgow Green with a host of music,

entertainment and activities.

freshnlo Pedal for Scotland now offers a

cycling event for any level of ability – from

newcomers to serious road cyclists to

make the event as inclusive as possible.

The event will again support charity partner

Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, which

raised over £225,000 in 2009.

Event organiser Andrew Pankhurst

commented:

“freshnlo Pedal for Scotland has always

presented a great challenge for people

who want a healthy and active day

out with friends, family or workmates.

However, Cycling Scotland want to

involve cyclists of all ages and abilities

which is why we are introducing two

new rides. We hope to encourage the

broadest range of people possible to

be part of Scotland’s biggest bike ride

and hope everyone, from seasoned road

riders through to those who just taken off

their stabilisers will get involved, and see

that cycling is the best way to travel.”

freshnlo Pedal for Scotland was established

in 1999 to promote cycling as a healthy

lifestyle choice and is now Scotland’s

biggest bike ride. There are regular rest

stops, free snacks and entertainment

along the route, making it the perfect way

to enjoy the countryside, stay fi t and have

fun. for more information or to register

please visit www.pedalforscotland.org

ABOUT THE nEW rIDES:

fAmILy rIDE

freshnlo Pedal for Scotland is a great family

day out, but at 51 miles, it’s a bit of stretch

if you’ve got young children. That’s why

we’ve developed an off-road family ride,

based at Glasgow Green featuring laps

of the park with a whole host of fun and

activities alongside it.

Best of all the event is completely frEE

to enter - so why not register now? The

freshnlo Pedal for Scotland Family Ride

features 3 mile laps of the park with no

traffi c whatsoever, a free certifi cate at the

end, cycle stunt show from the Riderz stunt

team, face painting, live music, freshnlo

fun zone with all manner of fun, games and

(plastic) cows to milk and more!

SPOrTIvE rIDE

Passing through 7 local authorities

and incorporating the best sections of

numerous Scottish road cycling circuits,

including the A77 10 Mile Time Trial,

sections of the Moscow APR and the

Strathaven Anderside Classic, the Pedal

for Scotland Sportive incorporates steep

climbs around Muirkirk and undulating

stretches across wild moorland.

The event, supported by Scottish Cycling,

uses the same start and fi nish points as

the existing Pedal for Scotland ride, but

takes an entirely separate route, meaning

you can bring along friends and family that

can’t cover as many miles as you and meet

up at the fi nish.

Cycling Scotland’s Glasgow to Edinburgh bike ride beat off the The Homecoming Cycling Scotland’s Glasgow to Edinburgh bike ride beat off the The Homecoming

freshnlo Pedal for Scotland (Cont.)

Cycling Scotland Chief Executive Ian Aitken picks up the awards

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With thousands of children across Scotland gearing up to cycle to school over the summer months, Cycling Scotland is urging drivers to give children the space and time they need to cycle safely to school.

Cycling Scotland is coordinating a Cycle to School campaign in seven areas across Scotland, targeting children, their parents and drivers. The campaign will be centred around local schools to promote ‘Cycle Friendly Zones’ – areas where drivers are asked to give children as much space as possible so they can make an easy and safe journey to class. The six week campaign will include outdoor advertising, advertising on local radio and leafleting to parents.

The Riderz stunt cycling team, will be visiting schools across Scotland to encourage children to get on their bikes and cycle to school. In recent months, Scottish celebrity cyclists, such as Chris Hoy, Mark Beaumont and stunt rider Danny MacAskill, have given cycling the ‘cool’ factor and Scotland is now seeing an increase in pupils taking to their wheels in a bid to be like their icons.

Coordinated by Cycling Scotland, Cycle to School campaigns will take place in Orkney, Moray, Edinburgh, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire,

East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire to encourage more children to get on their bikes for a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

Cycling Scotland Chief Executive Ian Aitken commented:

“Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise. With an estimated 50% of school children getting less than their recommened activity levels a day, cycling to school is an ideal way of reducing this figure and increasing children’s exercise routine. Getting children out in the fresh air also means they will arrive at school more alert and eager to learn.

Research shows that children want to cycle to school so we hope by making sure drivers look out for them, more children in Scotland will get on their bikes and cycle to school.”

Where possible, schools provide cycle training to help children learn skills on the road, in a real-life cycling environment. The training teaches children key skills such as manoeuvring, checking for danger and carrying out risk assessments effectively. In addition, Government funding is allowing for more and more cycle paths to be developed. The provision of bike sheds in schools and 20 mph limits around schools, has also helped ensure both the safety of children cycling to school and the security of their bikes.

School cycling facilities are continuing to improve throughout Scotland and cycle training is offered to all schools and is provided on application. This year alone, Cycling Scotland has trained an additional 216 Cycle Trainers to the National Standard for Cycling Training.

What’s more, schools can also be awarded for their commitment to cycling under the Cycle Friendly Schools award scheme which recognises schools that provide good facilities, incentives and promotion for children cycling to school. Find out more about the scheme at www.cyclingscotland.org

Cycling Scotland will be looking for local authority partners for the Give Kids Cycle Space campaign in 2011. Any local authorities interested in hosting the campaign in schools in their area should contact: Andrew Pankhurst on 0141 229 5354.

Give Kids Cycle Space Campaign launches across Scotland

The Riderz visit Glasgow Gaelic School as part of the campaign

Danny McAskill urges drivers to Give Kids Cycle Space

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Team Green Britain Bike Week: 19 - 27 JuneTeam Green Britain Bike Week is the UK’s biggest cycling event - almost half a million people took part last year, so why not get involved yourself in 2010?

The week’s activities are made up of

around 1500 different events, with over

260 here in Scotland, ranging from

small introductory events such as bike-

to-work days and bike breakfasts, right

through to mass participation rides for

those looking for a challenge.

Events are organised by people from all walks

of life - volunteers, charities, community

groups, local authorities and more - anyone

can get involved.

Take part in a Bike Week Event

Bike Week events are now being listed on the

website, with more being added all the time in

the run up to the week itself. Check out what’s

happening at www.bikeweek.org.uk or grab

a copy of the Scotland on Sunday on 13th

June for a Bike Week pull-out supplement

with events listings for Scotland.

Organise a Bike Week Event

Anyone can organise a Bike Week event -

it’s free to register your event as part of Bike

Week and you get free insurance, giveaways

and support from the team. Find out more

in the dedicated ‘Organiser’s Zone’ on the

website.

This year Team Green Britain is providing an

extensive range of Event Organiser’s Guides,

which can be downloaded from the website.

The 5 different guides are tailored to different

types of events, with a guide for small,

medium, and large events, and additional

ones for workplace and school events.

The guides give loads of ideas about what

kind of events you can put on and offer

invaluable advice on how to stage one

successfully.

Team Green Britain also provided a series of

national workshops to help event organisers

this year, with two taking place in Scotland.

The Glasgow and Perth workshops, which

took place in April, were attended by a wide

range of delegates from different backgrounds

and organisations, and provided a great

opportunity to get ideas for events and

partnership working opportunities.

Team Green Britain Bike Week takes

place between the 19th and 27th of

June, so keep checking the site for

new events and if you want help or

advice organising an event of your

own email: hq@bikeweek.org.uk or

info@cyclingscotland.org

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

BEGInnErS

Women Only CTC Ayrshire rideWomen only CTC beginners ride around Ayrshire starting at Monkton Cross

fAmILy

Healthy Habits Cycle Club Bike Week rideA free ride in the Kirkintilloch / Lenzie area using a selection of

off road paths with a small amount of on-road sections to link up the route starting at Kirkilntilloch Leisure Centre.

mOUnTAIn BIKInGKirroughtreeA ten hour mountain bike marathon in Galloway Forest Park. It’s real family day out and there

will be entertainment and music for all, race registration and pre race party commence on the Friday evening, with race scheduled to start at 0930 on Saturday and après race party going on late into Saturday Night for those who have the energy.

fUnDrAISInG rIDES

rob roy ChallengeThis event covers 55 miles of the spectacular Rob Roy Way by a combination of walking and cycling,

raising funds for a range of charities.

rOAD CyCLInG

Skye SportiveThis 48 mile route follows the peninsula between the cliffs of the Quaraing and the Atlantic Ocean. Riders really will feel that they are on the edge of

the world. As the route swings South the Cuillin Mountains are directly ahead. Mountains don’t get any more dramatic than this.

mASS PArTICIPATIOn

freshnlo Pedal for ScotlandScotland’s biggest bike ride – choose from the classic 51 mile Glasgow to Edinburgh Challenge

Ride, the 100 mile Sportive Ride or the free 3 mile off road Family Ride.

Bike Events Scotland is a new online

cycling calendar featuring hundreds

of events for 2010 for every kind of

cycling – leisure rides, mountain

biking, cycle training, sportives,

club outings, short beginner rides,

endurance challenges, competitive

sporting events – the lot!

You can now fi nd listings and info for

every kind of cycling on one website.

The calendar is easy to use and comes

complete with google mapping to get

you there, and RSS alerts for whatever

type of cycling you’re into. The website

was developed in partnership with

VisitScotland, Forestry Commission

Scotland, CTC, Scottish Cycling and

Sustrans.

Bike Events Scotland - bursting with events for 2010

Find whatever kind of cycling event you’re looking for by visiting our website at: www.bikeeventsscotland.com

JUN

2010

5

JULY

2010

10

MAY

2010

29

SEP

2010

12

JUN

2010

19

JUN

2010

19

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fOrT WILLIAm 2010

Downhill mountain biking’s most successful

competitor and reigning World Champion

Steve Peat rolled into Scotland on 22nd

march to mark the offi cial launch of the UCI

fort William mountain Bike World Cup 2010.

He and hundreds of other professional

mountain bikers will return to the scenic

Scottish Highlands on 5 - 6th June 2010, for

the multi award-winning event – an adrenaline-

packed weekend of world-class Downhill and

4-Cross action.

As he prepares to head off around the globe

on the competitive mountain bike circuit, Steve

said he can’t wait to get back to Fort William:

“Scotland has some of the best biking terrain

in the world, and there’s a real enthusiasm

for the sport here which always makes for a

brilliant atmosphere. It always helps to have a

vocal UK crowd – especially when I’m going to

be defending my title!”

Cycling Scotland will be a presenting partner

at the event this year, and will be offering taster

sessions for the Go Mountain Bike profi ciency

award. Last year’s event attracted more than

18,500 fans to Fort William, and generated an

estimated £2.5 million for the local economy.

Tickets for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup

are now on sale at the new look event website

www.fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk where event-

goers can also fi nd out more about this

year’s programme, tickets, the course and

competitors as well as travelling to the event

and accommodation in the local area.

SCOTTISH mOUnTAIn BIKE DEvELOPmEnT frAmEWOrK

Key national agencies are working together

as Developing mountain Biking in Scotland,

to plan how to sustain and grow mountain

biking in a way that provides optimum

and quantifi able returns in terms of public

participation, economic and tourism

development and sporting success.

Created by the Scottish Mountain Bike

Development Consortium (SMBDC) the

framework aims to build on the growth and

success of mountain biking in Scotland by

continuing to increase the visitor numbers

to Scotland, grow the number of Scots

participating in the activity and develop and

support Scots to win medals in national and

international competitions.

Key national organisations have worked

together to plan how best to sustain and

grow mountain biking in Scotland in a way

which provides optimum and quantifi able

returns in terms of participation in mountain

biking, economic and tourism development

and also in terms of public participation and

sporting development and success. This has

been seen by the organisations as a unique

opportunity to build on a fantastic Scottish

success story.

Steve Peat, UCI World Downhill Champion

said “It is superb to be out in school grounds

riding a mountain bike. I am excited that

Scotland is looking to promote these kinds of

opportunities and establish mountain biking

as a sport for all in Scotland. I love coming to

Scotland to ride with its stunning scenery and

mind-blowing variety of trails and mountain

bike facilities; it is a perfect place to be on

your bike.”

Chairman of the SMBDC, Brian Porteus

explains: “Being recognised as one of the

best destinations in the world for mountain

biking means we already have a great

story to tell and the Framework brings

together the key stakeholders so that we

can build on this reputation and maximise

the benefi ts to Scotland.”

To read the Sustainable Development

of Mountain Biking – a National

Strategic Framework, please visit: www.

scottishmountainbikeframework.org. The

project partners are CTC, Cycling Scotland,

Event Scotland, Forestry Commission

Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise,

IMBA, Scottish Cycling, Scottish Enterprise,

SNH, sportscotland and Visit Scotland.

Steve Peat launches Scotland’s new mountain bike strategy and World Cup

Steve Peat launches mountain bike strategy at Bannerman High School in Glasgow

Steve Peat gets set for Fort William

6 77

Active travel conference held in Edinburgh

CTC Launches Bike Club in Scotland

The Walking, Cycling and Connecting Communities Conference took place in Edinburgh on 25 may. The conference, organised by Sustrans, SPT, Living Streets,

Cycling Scotland and Paths for All featured presentations

from Scottish transport professionals, case studies from

politicians on how to successfully promote active travel

modes at local authority level and an MSPs’ Question Time

session inspired by the BBC show, where the audience

put their cycling and walking related questions to a panel

of MSPs. To see presentations from the day, head to www.

walkcycleconnect.org

Bike Club is a new

project that offers

support and funding to

enable cycling-based

learning experiences

among children and

young people.

Two development offi cers, one in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow, will

soon be helping youth groups, schools and community organisations

to use cycling as a way of discovering healthy lifestyles, developing

their independence and learning from each other. Bike Club is

funded in Scotland by Asda’s Pedal Power campaign, and has been

created by a partnership between Youth Scotland, ContinYou and

CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation.

further information can be found at bikeclub.org.ukor by calling 0844 736 8464.

The Bike Station in Edinburgh is aiming to get 500 businesses to sign up to a brand new project to cut carbon emissions from transport.

The project is called A Better Way to Work, and

has been set up to cut car use in the capital to

get more people walking, cycling, using public

transport and car sharing.

Staff from the Bike Station are approaching

businesses with under 500 members of staff

to get involved in the project, and are offering

any business that signs up a wide range of

individualised travel planning, incentives,

training and assistance to cut single-

occupancy car use. Staff in participating

offi ces will be offered a personal travel plan

that gives them information on the best options

for their journey to work. Often people are

unaware of cycle paths or bus routes that can

actually give them an easier, quicker, cheaper

or less stressful commute to work each day.

In addition, The Bike Station are able to offer

a whole range of free incentives, such as the

loan of a bike, free cycle training, a free month’s

bus travel or membership of the Edinburgh

City Car Club. The project staff will even go

as far as coming out to a person’s house and

cycling in to work with them if they are too

nervous to give it a try on their own.

The project also incorporates a Workplace

Cycle Challenge that allows businesses and

workplaces to register and compete against

each other to see which offi ce can get their staff

covering the highest amount of cycle miles to

work and back across a two week period.

Tram Training

The Bike Station were also called upon to help

cyclists in the capital negotiate the new tram

rails by Transport Initaitives Edinburgh (TIE).

Some cyclists had experienced diffi culties

with wheels getting stuck in the tram rails, so

TIE called in the Bike Station to provide training

for anyone who wanted advice and tips on

how to safely negotiate their way around the

new rails. Find out more about the Edinburgh

Trams project at www.tiedinburgh.co.uk

The Bike Station helps Edinburgh fi nd A Better Way To Work

To fi nd out more about this project call the Bike Station on 0131 668 1996 or visit the project website at www.abetterwaytowork.orgTo fi nd out more about this project call the Bike Station on 0131 668 1996 or visit the project website at www.abetterwaytowork.org

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Cycling Scotland has a range of programmes to help Local Authorities, Community Groups and other organisations to develop their workforce to effectively deliver their cycling projects.

InSTrUCTOrSOver the last year Cycling Scotland has trained an additional 404 instructors, mostly as Cycle Trainers or Cycle Ride Leaders. Cycle Trainers provide instruction on how to improve your riding skills for on-road journeys. This training has principally been organised through local authorities or local community groups resulting in over 130 days of training being provided.

Cycling Scotland has also supported other elements of the workforce who use their bikes to patrol as part of their daily duties. We have delivered Cycle Patrol courses for community wardens, park rangers and countryside rangers and our Police Cycle Patrol course has been used by all the Forces across Scotland. Cycling Scotland can also arrange courses in Mountain Bike Leadership for those groups making the connections between on and off-road journeys.

nETWOrK STAff Staff who plan, design, develop and promote cycling infrastructure play a key role in making cycling an attractive and accessible activity. Cycling Scotland support this by delivering a programme of 10 workshops called Making Cycling Mainstream (MCM).

Over the last year 106 candidates attended an MCM workshop with the “Planning and Designing for Cyclists” and the “Importance of Cycling” being the most popular in 2009. Specific workshops were arranged for Highland Council, Renfrewshire Council and Napier University, for MSc Transport Planning and Engineering and M Eng. students. Open courses were hosted in Ayr and Clackmannan.

Local Authorities and other key agencies can book these 1 day or ½ day workshops for a staff group by contacting Cycling Scotland, or individuals can book online at www.cyclingscotland.org

DEvELOPInG CyCLISTSTo support and encourage more people to use their bikes for Active Travel we have Ready, Steady, Bike and Go ByCycle cycle training courses for young people progressing to on-road journeys. These courses are part of the three-level national standard for cycle training alongside the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme, which is administered by Road Safety Scotland. These resources are currently available FREE of charge to Local Authorities and Youth Groups. We also have a Cycle Commuter course and resource for adults returning to cycling. This programme is usually delivered through our growing network of Cycle Friendly Employers.

To support and encourage Mountain Biking and journeys by bike into Scotland’s fantastic outdoors we have developed Go Mountain Bike - a 5 level mountain bike proficiency scheme to be delivered by qualified instructors. The scheme was developed in partnership with other cycling organisations and is currently being rolled out throughout the country.

There are already 33 Go Mountain Bike Accredited Centres and 77 qualified instructors have been orientated into the scheme. The scheme has been well received and adopted by many local authorities. Adventure Aberdeen have been one of the first outlets to start delivering and have been working with a number of primary schools in areas of social deprivation to deliver Go Mountain Bike. Many of the participants have already progressed to level 2 in the scheme and are keen to make further progress.

Ready, Steady, Bike and Go ByCycle resources to support your cycle training programmes can be ordered online here www.cyclingscotland.org/resourcespage.aspx Scottish Cycle Training Scheme resources can be ordered from Road Safety Scotland at www.road-safety.org.uk

Contact Cycling Scotland to order your Go Mountain Bike resources or arrange an orientation for your instructor group. Individuals can register online at www.cyclingscotland.org

HELPInG yOU TO BE CyCLE frIEnDLyCycling Scotland has a range of programmes to help organisations to be more “Cycle Friendly”

these are aimed at the School, Workplace and Community Settings.

CyCLE frIEnDLy EmPLOyEr 33 workplaces gained Cycle Friendly Employer Status in 2009/10, with over 25,000 people now working in cycle-friendly premises.

Dundee University was among the many new additions to the roll call of employers making cycling an easy and practical option for staff, having implemented an impressive amount of cycle parking for staff and students and offering cycle training for those who needed a confidence boost to get them back in the saddle.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) also became cycle-friendly this year, picking up awards for both their Dalkeith and Glasgow offices. The Scottish Government, whose Victoria Quay office received the award in 2008, also continued to lead by example by upgrading facilities for cyclists at 3 additional sites at St Andrews House and Saughton House in Edinburgh and at Atlantic Quay in Glasgow. In the private sector, Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) also attained cycle-friendly status for their office at the West of Scotland Science Park in Glasgow.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Cycle Friendly Employer contact Chris Johnson at Cycling Scotland on 0141 229 5353 or go to www.cyclingscotland.org

CyCLE frIEnDLy SCHOOLS32 schools in Scotland became Cycle Friendly Schools in 2009/10 with over 10,000 children now attending schools with good quality cycle parking, training and incentives.

Schools across Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Argyll and Bute, Edinburgh, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Inverclyde, Perth and Kinross and West Dunbartonshire all saw multiple schools achieve cycle-friendly status. Midlothian achieved an impressive 4 Cycle Friendly Schools in the past year and South Lanarkshire had 5 schools receiving the award. But the most cycle friendly place in Scotland for schoolchildren has to be Bishopbriggs in East Dunbartonshire, where 5 out of the 6 primaries in the town became Cycle Friendly Schools.

Cycling Scotland Active Travel Programmes

8 99

To find out more about becoming a Cycle Friendly School you can contact Chris Johnson at Cycling Scotland on 0141 229 5353 or go to www.cyclingscotland.org

COmmUnITy CyCLInG InnOvATIOn fUnD

In the community setting, Cycling Scotland has offered funding through the Community Cycling Innovation Fund to support local groups to deliver their chosen programme to encourage and develop cycling within their local area.

The fund is aimed at encouraging innovative new projects that benefit the local community. The first group of funded projects has just completed their programmes and an evaluation of their impact will be completed shortly. Case

studies from the 10 funded projects can be viewed online at www.cyclingscotland.org/communitycyclingfund.aspx

In the second round of funding we were overwhelmed with submissions and the Committee had a difficult task in selecting the 5 projects which were funded:

>> Banchory Pedallers

>> Life Cycles

>> Golspie High School MTB Club

>> Bishopbriggs Cycle Initiative

>> Bike Mates and Buddies – East Dunbartonshire

Case studies for each of these new projects will be available through the website in the near future.

The Smarter Choices Smarter Places project is now up and running in 7 areas across Scotland, with each one launching measures in local communities to get people travelling more sustainably.

School pupils of all ages are being encouraged to cycle in Barrhead as part of their local campaign branded as Go Barrhead. Wooden push-along Balance Bikes have been provided to give nursery pupils a good start on two wheels. At the other end of the age scale, pupils at Barrhead High School will have lessons in practical cycling skills including on-road training and maintenance skills as part of the PE curriculum. Go Barrhead is also participating in Cycling Scotland’s Cycle Friendly Zones Campaign.

In Glasgow East End, pupils at St Mungo’s Academy are also getting bike maintenance training as part of a bike loan and recycling scheme funded by the On The Move campaign. Schools in the area are also participating in the Cycle Friendly Zones Camapign, and the project will also incorporate infrastructure improvements including upgrading footways, creating new segregated cycle routes, and public realm upgrading.

The Kickstart Kirkwall campaign in Orkney was kicked off by the Cycle Friendly Zones Campaign, with the Riderz cycle stunt team performing at two primary schools and the Kirkwall skate park in April, drawing large crowds to watch their performances.

Cycling and walking are being encouraged in Stenhousemuir and Larbert through clubs and other activities organised in partnership between the Take the Right Route campaign and Stenhousemuir football club.

Newly installed Blue Blades signs will guide Kirkintilloch and Lenzie residents round the local path network while a new route map is available from the Healthy Habits shop in central Kirkintilloch.

Later this summer, the Dumfries GoSmart project will launch Scotland’s first self-service cycle hire scheme, while in Dundee bicycles will be made available to residents and students in a Cycle Library scheme within the Travel Active campaign.

To find out more about the entire Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme and see baseline reports from all seven projects, see the web site at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/sustainable-transport/Baseline

Smarter Choices Smarter Places projects now live across Scotland

Cycling Scotland Active Travel Programmes

10 111110

In football they talk of players who may not win too many popularity contests, but who “you’d want on your side.” It means individuals such as roy Keane or Graeme Souness - ‘big’ personalities, always 100% committed, and always ready and willing to fight your battles.

We cyclists have Lance Armstrong. The American seven-time Tour de France champion may not be universally loved. He may even be eyed with suspicion in certain quarters. But he is, as he has recently proved, a good man to have on your side.

In his second comeback - his first, in 1998, coming after his remarkable recovery from cancer - Armstrong has reinvented himself as a positive force when it comes to promoting cycling, not just as a sport but as a participation activity, and as an advocate for better road safety.

It’s ironic that Armstrong’s first autobiography, detailing his recovery from cancer and return to the sport, was titled ‘It’s Not About the Bike.’ Because, as he proved in late March, he has become a powerful spokesman for cyclists’ rights, on this occasion in response to some ill-advised - that’s a polite way of saying ignorant and offensive - comments by an American radio presenter, Tony Kornheiser.

Kornheiser, apparently unhappy at the appearance of a new bike lane in Washington DC, launched an extraordinary attack on cyclists. “The last time I looked, the roads were made for automobiles,” he began. The new bike lane, he added, would mean “we’re going to be

dominated as if this was Beijing by hundreds of thousands of bicyclists [who] all wear... stupid hats and shiny shorts.”

So far, so silly, and mildly irritating, but not overly offensive. But Kornheiser crossed the line when he then said of cyclists: “Run ‘em down... I don’t take my car on the sidewalk because I understand that’s not for my car... [so] why do these people think that these roads were built for bicycles? They dare you to run them down.”

Armstrong, when he learned of the comments, responded in the only way he knows how - by Twitter. Through his favourite medium he criticised the radio presenter’s outburst as “disgusting, ignorant, foolish. What a complete idiot.”

Then the story got more interesting, though. It seems that Sally Jenkins, who ghost-wrote the aformentioned Armstrong autobiography (and also his second, ‘Every Second Counts’), is a longstanding friend of Kornheiser. She put the two in touch, and, within hours of his rant, and having sparked the predictable online riot (helped no end by Armstrong’s ‘tweet’), they spoke. That conversation ended with Armstrong agreeing to appear on Kornheiser’s radio show the following day.

Introducing Armstrong, Kornheiser admitted he had gone “way over the top” during “one of my rants.” He added that “bicycle people were properly offended, [and the resulting furore] worked its way all the way up to Lance Armstrong.”

Already, you could sense that Armstrong had worked his magic. Like the politician that he is surely destined to become, he had won over Kornheiser with a bit of good old-fashioned charm and charisma, which even Armstrong’s detractors admit that he possesses in spades.

“We appreciate your apology,” said Armstrong, though I didn’t actually hear Kornheiser say sorry (apparently he had offered Armstrong an unqualified apology during their phone conversation the previous day).

Armstrong continued: “The interaction/relationship between people and bikes, and people and cars... it meets a wall sometimes, [but] obviously that’s a relationship that has to exist now and forever [and it] requires mutual respect.

“Cyclists can’t go around five-abreast. But at the same time, there’s no need for a car to come by and brush a cyclist. Not everybody is used to riding with cars. It could be a 40-year old lady on a bike for the first time, and a car comes and brushes her with a mirror... Trust me: she never gets on a bike again. And that’s a shame.”

Armstrong made a good point when he noted that “I’ve seen cars do all kinds of crazy things to avoid squirrels, cats, horses, tractors, whatever” but, confronted with cyclists, drivers can “get so angry.”

“Look,” Armstrong continued, “it’s a volatile situation sometimes, [but] both sides have to understand each other. We all have to get along here... I think the cycling community can do a better job of creating awareness, getting the message out there, and saying: this is good for all of us. Look at the stat’s - forty years ago, 40% of our kids rode bikes to school, and the obesity rate was 14%. You know what the figures are today? Only 3% of our kids ride bikes to school... because parents are afraid to put their kids on bikes.”

You could call it a charm offensive - you could even argue that Kornheiser’s original outburst didn’t deserve such a measured, considered response. Then again, would Armstrong have sounded so persuasive had he adopted a more confrontational tone? No, of course not. As it was, he not only won the argument, he also definitively claimed the moral high ground.

It is hugely encouraging, of course, that Armstrong seems to consider his unofficial role as a spokesman for cyclists (from racers to 40-year old novices) a responsibility that comes with the territory he occupies - which is as the world’s most famous bike rider.

But it also ties in with another of his post-comeback initiatives, the so-called ‘Twitter’ rides - mass-participation bike rides announced via the social networking site. It all started in Paisley last August, with other rides staged, and attended by increasing numbers, in Dublin and Adelaide. The goodwill these rides have fostered among cyclists - keen and casual alike - and the wider community, including the local police forces, should not be underestimated.

There remains in the mainstream media much low-level anti-cycling prejudice (Simon Hoggart, in the Guardian, was repeating some of his familiar anti-cycling gripes in the week of Armstrong’s confrontation with Kornheiser, complaining illogically about “cyclists’ ruthless determination”), but, when a high profile radio presenter can be persuaded to eat such a large slice of humble pie live on his own show, you know that at least some battles are being won. And being won with reason and calm persuasion.

As I said at the start, Lance Armstrong might not be to everyone’s taste. But, as cyclists, we have to acknowledge that he’s a good man to have on our side.

Richard Moore – I’m glad Lance is on my side…

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Last year I got myself a road bike and became hooked. now I’m not just an occasional biker but a full on cycling geek. for me the benefits of cycling are all the usual ones: It’s a quick way to get to work ( home to BBC in 11m:37s!), a brilliant activity to get me out in the fresh air at weekends, and a good way to cross train on my non running days.

However one of the biggest bonuses is that I’ve become a gear junkie! There’s no activity like cycling for bringing out your inner gadget geek.

Running is cheap and easy. (Or at least that’s what I kept telling myself every time I came home with another pair of trainers.) I have done for shares in Nike what Carrie Bradshaw did for Manolo Blahnik. If you want to run all you need is t-shirt, shorts, socks and trainers. OK, maybe an extra layer in the winter, possibly some tights and a watch so you can time how long your run is, but the stuff you need to run can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Sure, this year’s training shoe might come in a different colour from last year’s training shoe but as a shopaholic your opportunities are going to be limited.

Then I discovered cycling. not so much a new hobby - more like a whole new shopping opportunity.

Obviously, you don’t need any more than a bike and maybe a helmet to get out and start using your bike. But if, like me, you have a penchant for gadgets, gizmos and shopping in general, then cycling can open the door to a whole new world. Never mind things that I wanted, there are things that I didn’t even know existed. Track pumps, vibra trainers and multi tools were all items I had never encountered in my life as a runner.

On my long runs a hastily applied dod of Vaseline is enough to get me through the longest effort, but as a cyclist there is a bewildering range of chamois crèmes, body butters and even a product called chafe eaze! I’m still not terribly clear about what I should do with these products but I have

been assured that they will improve my rider comfort. Worryingly one of the packets tells me to apply liberally but to avoid intimate areas at all cost. I’m confused by this as I assumed it was my intimate areas I was trying to protect!

Flicking through one magazine I became so engrossed in the adverts for groupsets and levers that I wondered where the freepost was on my bike, and did I need to replace it with the carbon version. It was several minutes before I realised that freepost was reference to the method of shipment and not some vital component of my frame.

The other difference between runners and cyclists is in their appearance. Having a build like a distance runners makes people want to offer you food, not pin you up on their walls. Runners tend to be peely wally and beanpole-like. Cyclists are bronzed and body conscious.

Cyclists are confident about their machismo and comfortable in their sexuality. Rugby players wouldn’t shave their legs to look good and footballers would not spend £154 on a pair of red knickers – especially David Beckham who famously said he’s been known to wear his wife’s.

But as I found out, knickers are not knickers – they are 3/4 length tights. Still, you’d have to be brave to order them in bright red. That’s the other thing about uberwaxed, perfectly tanned blokes is that they can get away with wearing things that other people can’t. White lycra shorts are a hard look to pull off, but you kinda get away with them on the bike. Maybe not so good when you stop to get a pint of milk at the supermarket though.

I recently invested in my first pair of bib tights. Oh lord. It was like I was wearing one of Freddie Mercury’s stage outfits. When I first tried them on in the flat, my friends laughed out loud. Not smiling but proper crying with laughter kind of hilarity. However when I got on the bike it was a right royal transformation from a third-rate Queen tribute act to king of the mountains. Bryan and his magic tights

triumphed in the end. The great thing about all of this gear is that there’s always a new bit of kit that’s been developed which promises to do it better, faster and more accurately than the last version.

There was me thinking I could just stick a juice bottle in the holder and stop for a drink when I’m thirsty. No, turns out I should invest in membrane technology and spend my hard earned cash on something that promises a ‘new way of drinking’.

It seems that old way of putting water in your mouth and slurping it down is for losers. All I need to do is hand over my £8.50 and eliminate splatter for ever. Hurrah!

Should I find that cycling to work means I miss out on my morning latte, I now know that there is a commuters’ coffee mug that straps on to my handlebars and will ‘take away the thrills and spills of riding with coffee.’ Please tell me that the cereal holder that ‘puts the snap, crack and pop into your morning ride’ is not being developed?

If all this sounds a bit bewildering, don’t fear – you can get back in to cycling with not much more than a second hand bike. But if cycling turns from an interest into a passion, heed my warning and hold on to your wallets…

How cycling fuels my inner gadget geek…By Bryan Burnett - broadcaster, journalist, runner… and cyclist.

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Visit our website at www.cyclingscotland.orgCycling Scotland24 Blythswood Square, Glasgow G2 4BGNewsletter written by Andrew Pankhurst

Contact

Cycling Scotland Membership

Cycling Scotland is a registered charity

and a company limited by guarantee. The

organisation has 34 members from the following

organisations - SPT, Scottish Natural Heritage,

Scottish Road Safety Campaign, SESTrans,

Spokes, Bike Station, SportScotland,

Sustrans, TRANSform Scotland, Fife Council,

VisitScotland, City of Edinburgh Council,

CTC (Scotland), CTC (UK), First Scotrail,

Health Scotland, Scottish Cycling, Access

Forum Secreteriat, Common Wheel, Forestry

Commission Scotland, HITRANS, NESTRANS,

and Paths for All Partnership. Membership

is open to additional organisations. Please

contact Linda Peters on 0141 229 5350 for

more details.

Cycling Scotland Conference to partner with CycleNation in EdinburghCycling Scotland’s annual conference will take place on 5th November, at the City Chambers in Edinburgh. This year the conference will be part of the UK-wide series of Cyclenation conferences in partnership with CTC and Spokes, and will take place across two days. The Cycling Scotland conference will take place on the fi rst day, as a national conference for professionals, and the second day will cater for those involved in campaigning for and promoting cycling in their local areas. Further details of the conference will be available soon, and will be published in the next Cycling Scotland newsletter, and on the Cycling Scotland, Spokes and CTC websites.

Active Travel InquiryThe Scottish Parliament recently launched an inquiry into active travel in Scotland, as the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee called upon cycling and walking agencies and the public to share ideas on how to get more Scots making active journeys.

The inquiry took place in November 2009, and a wide range of organisations gave evidence, including Cycling Scotland, Sustrans, CTC, Living Streets, Paths for All, Spokes and Steer Davies Gleave. The discussion focussed on a range of issues including cycle training in schools, safety on the roads and the lack of joined up cycle infrastructure and routes. The biggest call from the majority of organisations was that more funding was required in order to get signifi cant numbers of people cycling more often.

The Committee published its report on 26th March 2010 and it is now available to read on the Scottish Parliament website. Following the publication of this report and the recommendations it sets out, it is expected that the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland will be published by the end of May. A revised version of the guidance document for cycle infrastructure in Scotland, Cycling by Design 2010, is also expected to be published at that time.

Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Funding Announced

The Scottish Government has announced

that Scottish Local Authorities will receive a

combined £9,090,000 of funding for Cycling

Walking and Safer Streets for 2010/11. The

additional good news for cycling is that

this year the funding has been provided

with a recommendation, from the Scottish

Government and COSLA, that each Local

Authority considers “spending a minimum of

36%, and preferably over 50%, of the grant

for the purposes of undertaking a programme

of works for the promotion of cycling”.

Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets grants are

ring-fenced funding established as a way to

help Local Authorities increase their emphasis

on active travel spending. Full details of the

allocation to each Local Authority can be

found on the Scottish Government’s website

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/

Doc/87943/0095689.pdf

Edinburgh City Cycling Action plan devised tomeet Charter of Brussels target of 15%

Edinburgh City Council signed the Charter

of Brussels back in May 2009, committing

the council to getting 15% of all trips made

by bike in the capital by 2020. The council is

drawing up an Edinburgh City Cycle Action

Plan in order to meet the target.

The spring 2010 Spokes newsletter states

that the current modal share for bike trips

in the city is 4%, but between 30-50% of

residents live just 2-5km from their work, so

the potential for increasing bike trips is high.

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Cycling, Walking and Safer Cycling, Walking and Safer

Conference to partner with Conference to partner with

Cycling Scotland MembershipCycling Scotland Membership