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Cycling Scotland
18 May: Etape Caledonia
14 June: Glasgow Big Bike Ride
15 June: Leukaemia Research Kingussie Bikeathon
21 June: Edinburgh to St. Andrews Bike Ride
22 June: Two Capitals Ride: Dunfermeline to Edinburgh
22 June: First Mini Monster
14 September: Pedal for Scotland
16 September: European Mobility Week
Bike Week
Noticeboard
ISSUE 07 SPRING 2008
CYCLING SCOTLAND NEWS
‘Get into Cycling to School’ Media Campaign LaunchesSpring 2008 will see Cycling Scotland on a mission to get more children cycling to school, as a new media campaign has been launched in 4 areas across Scotland.
Spreading the message of “Get into Cycling to School”,
the media campaign is based around promoting the £10
million investment made during the Scottish Government’s
‘Tackling the School Run’ initiative. The project saw new cycle
infrastructure such as bike parking and cycle lockers installed
alongside new off road paths and traffic calmed streets.
Taking a targeted approach, Cycling Scotland has focused
on 4 key areas where research identified that parents would
be most receptive to a pro-cycling message and good
levels of cycling infrastructure and training were in place –
Aberdeenshire, Moray, West Lothian and Edinburgh.
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Cycling Scotland
The aim of the campaign is to communicate to parents in
these areas that cycling to school is a good option for their
children, being not only healthy, green and less stressful than
driving them on the school run, but also now supported by
measures to make it easy, safe, convenient and fun. Research
had previously indicated that the main barrier to children
cycling to school was that parents did not allow it because of
fears that it may be unsafe.
The media campaign will comprise a series of radio adverts
broadcast during the school run hours, asking parents who
are driving their children to school to consider cycling as an
alternative, and will be backed up by visual media on key
school run routes. The campaign visuals take inspiration
from the fact that over 30% of school children want to
cycle to school but only 1% do, and will range from large
billboard adverts to bus shelter ‘take-overs’ where entire bus
shelters will be overprinted with graphics showing children’s
enthusiasm for cycling to school.
The overall aim is to encourage parents to re-evaluate their
attitude towards their children cycling to school, and to give
parents the information they need to plan how their children
can cycle to school.
Following the success of Cycling Scotland’s popular Cycle Friendly Employer scheme, a new award has been developed to encourage schools to provide facilities for children to be able to make their way to class by bike.
The Cycle Friendly Schools award is due to launch in April
2008, and is aimed at primary schools across Scotland. The
award will assess how cycle-friendly Scottish primary schools
are in relation to set criteria such as cycling infrastructure,
incentives and promotion. The process will also enable
schools to develop an action plan in order to make further
improvements which will mean more pupils can make an
active and safe journey to school.
The scheme has been developed in partnership with a number
of key stakeholders in order to encourage cycling as part
of the whole school culture and contribute to increasing the
number of children cycling to and at school. A Cycle Friendly
School pack will be sent to all primary schools in Scotland
during April. The pack contains all the information needed to
get the school on the road to achieving cycle friendly status,
with specially devised guides for teachers and for a cycling
champion within the school, as well as assessment forms
and lesson plans.
The Award pack will be sent to all Primary schools in Scotland
through the School Travel Co-ordinator, Active School Co-
ordinator and Road Safety Officer networks.
If you would like more information about becoming a Cycle
Friendly School you can contact Education and Training
Officer Lindsay Brunton on 0141 229 5350 or at
[email protected], or simply go to our
website at
www.cyclingscotland.org/cyclefriendlyschool.aspx
The marketing campaign will be
backed up by PR work to get the
message into local newspapers and
radio. Photocalls are to be arranged
in schools where cycling levels are
now comparatively high, to show other
schools that it can be done and has a
positive impact on school life.
A microsite has been launched on the
Cycling Scotland website to give more
information to parents, teachers and
children on how to get into cycling to
school, and giving details of cycling
infrastructure and routes in the 4 focus
areas. To find out more information,
visit
www.cyclingscotland.org/
cyclingtoschool.aspx
Cycle Friendly Schools
continued from page 1
Cycling Scotland is providing free
reflective waistcoats, reflective
arm bands, road signs for cycle
training and cycling activity skills
kits to assist with cycle training
in schools. These items are
being delivered to local authorities
throughout February, March and April
and have been provided to School
Travel Coordinators, Active School
Managers and Road Safety Officers
as appropriate to each local authority
area. 4 day Cycle Trainer Courses are
also available to help build capacity
to enhance the delivery of cycle
training within Local Authority areas.
Cycling Scotland will continue to
offer this training free of charge for
key personnel throughout 2008.
Free cycle training kit available
To order equipment or training call Alasdair Marshall on 0141 229 5350
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Cycling Scotland
3 modules of Cycling Scotland’s professional development course Making Cycling Mainstream were delivered in March 2008 to a group of local authority and industry stakeholders in Perth.
The courses covered 3 key areas relating to increasing
cycling. The Stakeholder Engagement module outlines how
to effectively work in partnership with other organisations and
how to assess the needs of users and stakeholders through
effective consultation. Marketing and Promoting Cycling deals
with how to ensure cycling facilities are used once they are
installed through marketing and PR, and how to raise overall
cycling levels by promoting the various benefits of cycling
to targeted segments of the market. On the more technical
side, a full day course was devoted to carrying out a cycle
audit, which is a key component of planning and designing
cycle routes.
Cycling contributes to several of Sestran’s key objectives, especially in improving access to employment
Cycle Friendly Employer - SESTRAN awardRegional Transport Partnership Sestran became the latest employer to gain cycle-friendly status earlier this year, after fulfilling all the necessary criteria to receive the Cycle Friendly Employer Award.
The award was presented to Sestran by Cycling Scotland
Director Sandy Scotland. Keith Irving, Travel Plan Officer at
Sestran, who had spearheaded the efforts to achieve the
award, collected it on behalf of Sestran. Keith explained his
reasons for pursuing the award:
“The improvement of cycling facilities will assist present day
cyclists, and encourage more people to consider cycling
as a potential mode of transport, since exposure to traffic
is a significant deterrent for some. The promotion of cycling
can bring major health and environmental benefits. Cycling
contributes to several of Sestran’s key objectives, especially
in improving access to employment, contributing to the
achievement of the UK’s national targets and obligations
on greenhouse gas emissions, promoting more sustainable
travel and increasing transport choices while reducing
dependency on the private car.”
Any organisation seeking to become cycle-friendly
should contact Lindsay Brunton on 0141 229 5350 or at
[email protected] to get a Cycle
Friendly Employer pack.
Cycling Scotland Director, Sandy Scotland, presenting Keith Irving, Travel Plan Officer at SESTRAN with the award
The courses were well attended,
and feedback showed the delegates
had found they had learnt key skills
that would help them increase levels
of cycling in their job roles. Making
Cycling Mainstream courses can be
delivered on demand, and at venues
across the country, so if you are
interested in booking contact Jim
Riach on 0141 229 5350 or at
visit the website at
www.cyclingscotland.org/
makingcyclingmainstream.aspx
Making Cycling Mainstream delivered in Perth
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Cycling Scotland
Bike Week 2008It’s all change for the biggest cycling event in Britain this year, as Bike Week returns fully rebranded and revamped.
The job of managing the overall strategy and brand for the
week long festival of over 1000 cycling events UK-wide has
changed hands, and the new agency partners Forster and
Limelight have brought not only a funky new brand style to
the week, but also a number of exciting new partnerships.
The new Bike Week brand can be seen on the right, and
brings a fresh and modern look to the event. In addition,
a new theme for the public relations strategy has been
developed. Communications to press and media will carry
the message that Bike Week is an ideal way to ‘Free the
Family’. Be it freeing kids up from the computer, or mum and
dad from in front of the TV, Bike Week is an ideal opportunity
for families to get out in the fresh air and do something active
and fun together.
Bike Week will this year have a commercial sponsor for the
first time, as Nokia Mobile Phones are supporting the week’s
events. Bike Week also has a new charity partner, in the form
of Sport Relief, giving people an additional opportunity to
support this great cause.
The new Bike Week Organiser’s Guide is out now and is
available from the Bike Week website at
www.bikeweek.org.uk so anyone who wants to get involved
and stage an event can get the full facts on the support from
Bike Week HQ and get ideas for different kinds of events to
put on.
In Scotland, Cycling Scotland will
again be supporting event organisers
and promoting the week’s activities as
widely as possible in the press and
media. To find out how we can help
and support your event, contact David
Gilmour on 0141 229 5359 or at
Bike Week EventsHere are some of the Bike Week events announced so far:
14 June Glasgow Big Bike Ride
An off road ride through the beautiful Glasgow Park in
aid of Childline Scotland. Call 0844 892 0212 for more
details.
12 - 15 June Edinburgh Bike Week Film Festival
The festival of bike related films returns to Edinburgh’s
Filmhouse, this year including a new film Just a Minute, a
documentary on Scottish cycling hero Chris Hoy.
www.bicyclefilmfestival.info
15 June Leukaemia Research Kingussie Bikeathon
A 26 mile cycle through the outstanding Highland
countryside in aid of Leukaemia Research.
Email [email protected] for details.
21 June Edinburgh to St Andrews Bike Ride
67 miles of undulating Fife countryside make this annual
ride very popular, with over 1000 cyclists taking part to
raise funds for LEPRA. www.lepra.org.uk
22 June Two Capitals Ride
From the old capital city of Dunfermline to Edinburgh,
this ride takes in historic locations, beautiful views and
raises funds for bikes and cycle equipment for schools.
http://prenticeevents.com/
22 June First Mini Monster
Pollok Park Glasgow. First Mini Monster is a duathalon
event aimed at getting families and groups of friends
together to enjoy a day out of running and cycling fun
and help raise money for Save the Children.
www.firstmonster.co.uk
www.bikeweek.org.uk
Annabel Goldie MSP and Robin Harper MSP taking part in
the MSP Bike Ride in Bike Week 2007
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The biggest and best bike ride in Scotland celebrates its tenth birthday this year, as Pedal for Scotland returns on 14th September.
The ride attracted an amazing 4000 participants last year,
meaning its mass of riders has increased tenfold from the 400
riders who took part in the very first Pedal for Scotland just
nine years earlier. The ride is now an established institution
on the summer calendar of mass participation activities and
looks set to grow from strength to strength this year with a
flood of entries in already.
For anyone not familiar with the ride, Pedal for Scotland runs
from Glasgow to Edinburgh, taking a 50 mile route across the
country, along quiet B roads and cycle paths. Along the way
it takes in country parks, rural villages, stately homes, open
countryside, and is book-ended by Scotland’s two largest
cities. It’s ideal for a day out with the family, a workplace
challenge, a fundraiser, or as the end goal of a keep fit
regime.
Riders are well looked after throughout the ride, with
refreshment stops placed every ten or so miles along the
route providing water and snacks, plus the traditional free
pasta meal. Travel arrangements are also made easy with our
transport service, which takes you and your bike either to the
start or home from the finish line.
Bringing friends along not only makes the ride more fun, but
it can save you money too- register as a team of 4 and the
4th rider goes free. You can register for Pedal for Scotland
now at www.pedalforscotland.org
Pedal for Scotland 2008 - registration open
The ride is now an established institution on the summer calendar
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secreatry for Health and Well-being Nicola Sturgeon
and Alastair Campbell at Pedal for Scotland 2007
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Cycling Scotland
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Cycling Scotland
Cycling Scotland’s engineering consultancy Transport Planning and Engineering (TP&E) is delighted to announce that their continued work in partnership with South Ayrshire Council has paid off, as the local authority has won a national transport award for walking and cycling.
South Ayrshire Council won the Scottish Transport Award
2007 Walking and Cycling Award. This award recognises
the council’s innovative and exciting work, that has led to an
extensive number of cycle and walking routes being created
in South Ayrshire.
The Scottish Transport Awards 2007, which are supported
by the Scottish Government, the Scottish Transport Studies
Group, Transport Scotland, the Strathclyde Partnership
for Transport and Transport Times acknowledge real
improvements to local transport.
TP&E has designed and oversaw construction of a number
of different cycling and walking routes in South Ayrshire. One
of the most notable is the Burton to Alloway path, which the
TP&E team re-designed from its original use as a railway line,
to form a vital sustainable transport link. An extensive cycle
network has also been installed in Ayr, while Girvan residents
became the first recipients in Scotland
of a complete on/off road cycle
network. Other works have included
cycle paths on the esplanade at Troon,
and designs for as yet unbuilt projects
in Prestwick.
Staff from the Council’s Transportation
section of the Department of
Development, Safety and Regulation
submitted their Local Cycle Feeder
Routes scheme for consideration for
the Scottish Transport Awards 2007.
Councillor Peter Convery, the Council’s
Portfolio Carrier for Sustainability and
Environmental issues said: “To win a
national award of this calibre for the
walking and cycling routes in South
Ayrshire is a tribute to the innovation,
dedication and determination of all the
staff involved in the project.
“Walking and cycling are
environmentally friendly and
sustainable ways of travelling. The
network of routes can be enjoyed
by people of all ages, whether they
use them to travel to and from work,
during their leisure time or as a way of
keeping fit.
“South Ayrshire Council’s Local
Transport Strategy recognises the need
to promote and encourage greater use
of sustainable transport. Scotland’s
National Transport Strategy prioritises
cycling, together with walking, as the
preferred method of transport, so it is
very important to provide high quality
facilities for cyclists and walkers.”
South Ayrshire Council win a National Transport Award for cycle routes
Over 2500 cyclists are expected to descend onto the picturesque roads of the Scottish highlands when Britain’s only closed-road cycle challenge, the Etape Caledonia, returns to Perthshire for a second year on Sunday 18th May 2008.
This year the 81-mile course will
start and finish in Pitlochry, winding
around Loch Rannoch and Loch
Tummel, including a steep hill-climb
up Scheihallion with a total ascent of
1,949m.
Hosting spectacular scenery, a
fantastic route and the added benefit
of no traffic to contend with, the Etape
Caledonia gives cyclists the chance to
experience closed roads in a superb
surrounding. The route provides a stern but achievable
challenge for keen cyclists and novices alike leading cyclists
through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Scotland.
The Etape Caledonia has received a ringing endorsement
from Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Chris Hoy.
“I am delighted to support the Etape Caledonia 2008,
especially as it’s being held in my native Scotland! It’s a great
chance to cycle on closed roads, which is something you
never usually get to do in the UK.”
Entries are now open please visit
wwww.etapecaledonia.co.uk or call the event office on
0871 384 9920 for more information.
Etape Caledonia
A cyclist samples South Ayrshire’s award winning network with a trip on the Ayrshire Coast Cycleway The Etape Caledonia includes a hill-climb up Scheihallion (centre)
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First Mini MonsterThe countdown is on to enter First Mini Monster, the first duathlon of its kind in Scotland aimed at families and friends of all ages to raise money for FirstGroup’s charity partners, Save the Children.
Hosted by FirstGroup, First Mini Monster is a spin-off from
the First Monster Challenge, the 120km team duathlon
(cycling and running) around the shores of Loch Ness which
was launched last year and returns on 13 September.
The First Mini Monster - on Sunday 22 June - will be a more
genteel event with the choice of two fun challenges suitable
for all fitness levels. The first is aimed at families and friends
and will see participants either run 1.5km or cycle 5km and
the second is an adult race of either 3km run or 10km cycle.
Both are designed for teams of four, with each member
completing one run or one bike section of the course.
Pictured (above) with local school children is Gavin Hastings,
the Grand Slam winner, British Lions
captain and best full-back of his
generation. He issued a rallying call
for entries to First Mini Monster. Gavin,
who is planning to compete in the
Glasgow event with his wife Diane and
two children Adam, 11, and Holly, nine,
said: “FirstGroup is putting on fantastic
events throughout the country.’’
To register or for more information
about the First Mini Monster Challenges
and the First Monster Challenge log
on to www.firstmonster.com
The National Assessment of local authorities is on the verge of completion, and is set to provide a new overview of the standard of cycling provision in every region of Scotland.
Building on the work done for the
original National Assessment project
in 2005, the new report will show how
local authorities throughout the country
set cycling policy, assess user needs,
plan, design and build infrastructure,
provide training and promote cycling
to local people. Crucially, it will show
what improvements have been made
since the first report 3 years ago.
Initial analysis of the results show positive signs of
improvement in several areas, and Cycling Scotland is
working hard to finalise the findings for publication in May
2008. The full report and individual reports for each local
authority area will be available as a physical document on
request from Cycling Scotland, and digital versions will be
available to download from the Cycling Scotland website.
The Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson is backing the development of a new Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS) to galvanise efforts to get more people cycling more often.
During the summer, members of the
public and stakeholder organisations
will be invited to take part in a number
of participatory events to help set
the priorities for the project. The
CAPS board, which comprises 12 key
partners and is chaired by Cycling
Scotland Chief Executive Erl Wilkie, will
Cycling Action Planuse the feedback from these events to focus the individual
efforts of all delivery organisations and provide greater
shared direction to integrate cycling into everyday life.
The plan will map activity, identify opportunities for partnership,
encourage organisations to commit to outcomes for cycling
delivery, and set targets to monitor progress. The Action
Plan will become a dynamic strategy and is an excellent
opportunity to co-ordinate the work of national agencies such
as Scottish Natural Heritage and Sustrans, public transport
operators, health and education authorities, planning and
roads authorities, private businesses and central and local
government.
The completed Action Plan will be published early next year.
National Assessment 2008
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A Scottish cyclist has broken a world record for cycling around the world, as Fife man Mark Beaumont cycled over 18,000 miles in just 195 days. Beaumont became the Guinness World Record holder for the title of fastest person ever to cycle around the world, after circumnavigating the globe on a journey that took him through 20 countries and numerous brushes with trouble.
Finishing his journey at the Arc de
Triomphe in Paris, Beaumont was
greeted by family and friends, and
the world’s media, with whom he
shared some stories of his trip. He
suffered water poisoning in Iran and
food poisoning in Pakistan, and was
knocked off his bike three times - by
a donkey in Pakistan, a motorbike in
India and in Florida by an old woman
in a car.
Mugged in Louisiana, locked up by
police in Pakistan, and nearly washed
away by torrential rains in Thailand, Mr.
Beaumont, 25, said he “never felt like
giving up”.
To beat the previous Guinness World
Record, the politics graduate from
Newburgh, Fife, had to cycle at least
Scottish Cyclist breaks world record for cycling round the world
18,000 miles. Flying time was not counted but the stopwatch
started ticking as soon as the bike had cleared customs. The
former record holder was another Briton, Steve Strange, who
in 2004-5 cycled 18,424 miles in 276 days, 19 hours and 15
minutes.
Mr. Beaumont smashed that by almost three months, arriving
exactly on time, after cycling a gruelling 100 miles a day on
a bike weighing 100 kilos (220lbs), with a day off every two
weeks. A low point was travelling 800 miles through Pakistan-
administered parts of the lawless Baluchistan province,
where he was given a police escort by day and locked up by
night in police cells for his own safety.
He lost a stone. But, he said he made some “amazing
friendships” along the way, and had time to take in some
amazing sights.
Mr. Beaumont’s cycling bug began early. At the age of 12 he
cycled across Scotland, but only after his mother persuaded
him that Land’s End to John o’ Groats was too far. To prepare
for his record bid, in 2006 he pedalled from Warsaw to the
Arctic Circle.
After initial saddles sores, his body soon got accustomed to
the daily routine, but mentally there were tough moments.
“Then it’s just a case of getting through the next hours, or
minutes. In easier times you can lengthen your focus to the
end of a country. It’s all about mind games”, Mark said. “There
were long stretches where I didn’t speak to anyone and had
no contact. I took a lot of strength from the fact that a lot of
people were watching a little dot on a GPS map and knew
where I was”, he said.
His position was updated every two hours on his website
via satellite.
Mr. Beaumont was congratulated by Prince William, who is
patron of Tusk, one of the charities he raised money for. He
has already raised around £5,000 but expects to make at
least another £10,000 now that he has crossed the finishing
line.
Mr. Beaumont said he was not sure what to do next: “It’s
really a blank canvas now. You’ll have to ask me that next in a
few days. I intend to sleep for about a fortnight.”
Mugged in Louisiana, locked up by police in Pakistan, and nearly washed away by torrential rains in Thailand, Mr. Beaumont, 25, said he ‘never felt like giving up’
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Cycling Scotland
Written by Andrew Pankhurst and Ian Aitken
Lindsay Brunton and Clare Benjamin.
For a PDF in larger text
email [email protected]
The Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) has launched a new series of rides to attract women riders into their organisation.
After over 100 years in existence, the CTC is well established
to spot trends in cycling, and one trend that has long been
overwhelmingly obvious is that cycling is a male dominated
pastime. To address this, the CTC has developed 5 Miles to
Fabulous, a series of short women only rides. The central
idea is to tap into the female disposition towards staying in
shape, by pairing that with the fun aspect of group bikes
rides, to make exercise something that is more enjoyable and
social than your average session on the treadmill.
A CTC spokesperson commented: “Women have an
influential role in the travel decisions of the family, and this
can lead to an increase in family cycling, including children
cycling to school and partners commuting to work. This
is a good opportunity for groups, cycle trainers and local
authorities to publicise their cycle activities and services in
this often hard to reach sector.
“Five miles to Fabulous is targeted at women who have a
basic level of cycling competency, but haven’t cycled for
many years and/or lack confidence and need a motivator to
help them get back on the bike. This is created through a
supportive, friendly atmosphere, amongst likeminded peers,
with an experienced cycle leader to develop skills and give
advice and encouragement.”
The CTC are looking for more event organisers across the
country, to provide as many opportunities as possible for
women to take part and get cycling. Want to know how to
organise a Five Miles to Fabulous event? Go to
www.fivemilestofabulous.co.uk
CTC appeal to women cyclists with “5 Miles to Fabulous” rides
