Cycle Access Fund strand 2: Shared Use FAQs
- What is the Cycle Access Fund for shared Use cycles?
- Who is eligible to apply for the Shared use strand of Cycle Access Fund?
- What kinds of cycles can the fund be used to buy?
- Is match funding required?
- Can the fund be used to buy equipment?
- Can the fund be used to buy bikes and equipment for a docked cycle hire scheme?
- Can the fund be used to pay for storage?
- Can the fund be used to pay for revenue costs?
- Can we charge a fee for people to use the bikes?
- What is the deadline for applying?
- Is there a limit to the number of cycles we can buy, or the amount we can apply for?
- Can the fund be used to purchase a variety of cycles (adult, child, non-standard, electric)?
- Can the fund be used to buy recycled bikes?
- Will advice be provided around bike purchasing (suitable models, reasonable price points, and so on)?
- What monitoring and evaluation requirements are attached to the fund?
- Who owns the assets?
1. What is the Cycle Access Fund for shared use cycles?
This strand of Cycle Access Fund provides grants to organisations to provide non-ownership options for cycles. We know that owning a cycle will not be the best option for everyone and there are different models of bike access that can provide sustainable and cost-effective mobility for people on low incomes.
The Cycle Access Fund – Shared Use strand provides capital grants to a range of organisations to purchase cycles and equipment for loan schemes, subscriptions, hire schemes, bike libraries, pool bikes or bike share. Applicants should demonstrate how you will meet a particular need in your community, promoting inclusivity and supporting those who are least likely to have access to a cycle of their own.
2. Who is eligible to apply for the Shared Use strand of Cycle Access Fund?
The funding is not available to individuals, only organisations. In 2024-25 we are funded by Regional Transport Partnerships to work in specific regions of Scotland, not the whole country. You can check your local authority here.
Organisations whose registered address is in one of the following local authorities are eligible to apply:
- Aberdeen City
- Aberdeenshire
- Argyll and Bute (only Helensburgh and Lomond District)
- City of Edinburgh
- Clackmannanshire
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Lothian
- East Renfrewshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Glasgow
- Inverclyde
- Midlothian
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- Scottish Borders
- Shetland Islands
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
- West Lothian
3. What kinds of cycles can the fund be used to buy?
Any cycles suitable for short local journeys and leisure cycling are eligible, including non-standard cycles, e-cycles and children’s cycles. We will not fund full suspension mountain bikes, BMX and other bikes that are not practical for everyday journeys.
4. Is match funding required?
No, match funding is not required.
5. Can the fund be used to buy equipment?
Equipment that may be used and loaned alongside the cycles (for example, helmets, lights, locks and bags) may be purchased with the fund.
6. Can the fund be used to buy bikes and equipment for a docked cycle hire scheme?
We will not fund any new docked cycle hire schemes – the timescale of the available funding does not permit it – but we can fund purchases relating to existing docked schemes.
7. Can the fund be used to pay for storage?
If you need to purchase storage to enable you to own and use the cycles, then you may include that cost in your application. You may not use the fund to solely pay for storage. In your expression of interest form you will be asked about your storage solution – whether current or planned.
8. Can the fund be used to pay for revenue costs?
This is a capital fund and, as such, applications should be focused on the procurement of capital assets. However, proposals for complementary activities may be considered where there is a direct link to capital elements; for example, bike maintenance costs in conjunction with procurement of bikes.
9. Can we charge a fee for people to use the bikes?
Yes, but profits should be used to support the running of the scheme.
10. What is the deadline for applying?
We will be accepting and processing expression of interest forms from the project’s launch. We will hold three grant panels to assess second-stage application forms and allocate funding in July, September, and November.
The fund will close, either when the funds have all been allocated or on 31 March 2025, whichever occurs soonest. We anticipate this fund will be popular and would encourage expression of interest submissions at your earliest opportunity.
11. Is there a limit to the number of cycles we can buy, or the amount we can apply for?
The maximum number of cycles that you may apply for funding to purchase is 10. There is no limit to the amount of funding that you can apply for, but please bear in mind that we anticipate the fund being very competitive and we will not be able to fund everyone that applies.
We expect you to demonstrate feasibility in your application. You should be able to show the need in your community; that you have considered the logistics of storing and maintaining the cycles you are applying to the fund to purchase, as well as providing a convincing plan for managing and monitoring their use.
12. Can the fund be used to purchase a variety of cycles (adult, child, non-standard, electric)?
Yes, you may buy more than one type of cycle.
13. Can the fund be used to buy recycled bikes?
Yes, you may purchase recycled or secondhand cycles from an established supplier. However, they cannot be bought from individuals on Gumtree, eBay, Amazon or Facebook Marketplace.
14. Will advice be provided around bike purchasing (suitable models, reasonable price points, and so on)?
Yes, the application guidance contains a link to a bike buying guide which provides this information. It is important that you demonstrate in your application that you have an understanding of why particular cycles will meet your needs and that you have, or will have, measures in place to effectively manage a fleet and a cycle share scheme.
15. What monitoring and evaluation requirements are attached to the fund?
We require you to provide us with email addresses and postcodes for everyone who uses the cycles bought through this fund. We will only email them a survey to support the monitoring and evaluation of the Cycle Access Fund; we will not add them to any mailing lists or share their details further.
16. Who owns the assets?
Successful grant applicants will be the sole owners of any cycles and other assets purchased using this fund.
