Funding boost for Big Bike Revival in Scotland

Minister for Transport and Islands Humza Yousaf MSP announced the funding at the National Active Transport Conference in Edinburgh today (14 June 2016). 

The Big Bike Revival aims to get more people across the country cycling by getting their unused bikes out of the shed and back in working order. Over 50 centres across Scotland will host Big Bike Revival events over four weeks this summer, offering the public a chance to:

• Fix a cycle so it can start to be used and learn how to maintain it.
• Trade a cycle for one better suited to individual needs and donate surplus cycles.
• Experience cycling in their local area, utilising the National Cycle Network, and discover local cycling networks.
• Take part in a variety of cycle training activities to become confident and competent cycling on the road.

The Big Bike Revival programme has already proved a success in England in 2015. Over 50,000 people benefitted from the project last year, with over 21,000 saying they now cycle more often. Of those who attended, 46% lived in a deprived neighbourhood.

Funding for the Big Bike Revival in Scotland was announced this morning by Humza Yousaf during his keynote address at the eighth National Active Travel Conference at ‘Our Dynamic Earth’ in Edinburgh, outlining how integrated sustainable transport will be supported in the next session of the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Yousaf said:

“I am delighted to award this Scottish Government funding of £453,000 to Cycling UK to bring the Big Bike Revival project to Scotland this year, with the aim of delivering transport and related physical activity behaviour change on a significant scale.  

“This project engages a network of established community focused initiatives where cycling has been adopted to help address economic, social or health inequality. Organisations receiving funding from Transport Scotland – such as Sustrans and Cycling Scotland – will work with Cycling UK to add significant value to projects such as Pedal for Scotland and the work in schools which encourage people to take up cycling again, or for the first time.

“The Big Bike Revival will contribute to our vision of 10% of everyday journeys by bike by 2020.” 

Suzanne Forup, Cycling UK’s Head of Development Scotland, said:

“The Big Bike Revival supports the vision of 10% of journeys in Scotland being undertaken by bike by 2020 by supporting non-cyclists to cycle, and irregular cyclists to cycle more often.

“We want to encourage people to cycle to work or school, to the shops, or to visit friends rather than drive or use public transport. Our ambition is to make cycling a normal part of everyday life as it is good for your health, well-being, the economy and the environment.

“The project will reach a climax with the autumn Big Bike Revival Rides programme in October – a celebration of cycling consisting of hundreds of scheduled led ride events across Scotland.

“Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival has already demonstrated that with some simple promotion of existing local bicycle repair and recycling centres, people are more than keen to take up the chance to revive their bike and learn how simple it is to repair a puncture, or fix a chain, and get themselves more active by cycling again. The Big Bike Revival programme reflects Cycling UK’s ethos to help communities to take up cycling.”