Buckie bike club saddles up to set people on the road to health
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IT was time to get on your bike at Buckie Community High School when a new cycling club saddled up for the first time.
There was a chance for young and old alike to try a whole range of different bikes, including e-bikes for people with low mobility, adaptive bikes for people with disabilities, manual pedal bikes for adults as well as bikes for younger people. On hand to give some hints and tips was Cycling UK development officer for Moray Iain Bamber.
Behind the new club, which is set to run on a Wednesday, is the Buckie Peoplehood project. Launched in April 2021, Peoplehood is designed to improve people’s everyday lives and make a positive impact.
The bike club is a combined effort between the project, Cycling UK and Moray Council.
Vivienne McNiven, sustaining physical activity lead with Peoplehood, said: "The bike club has been set up as part of the Peoplehood project but we hope it will continue beyond the end of the programme in 2024.
"Its main aims are to promote the physical activity benefits from cycling but also cycling's part in Active Travel.
"It's part of the bigger Peoplehood project here in Buckie; it's about sustainability and, apart from cycling being a great way to travel there's also the cost of living aspect to consider with fuel bills rising.
"Setting up the club was one of the things local residents on the Buckie Active Travel Group said in their feedback they'd like to see.
"The club offers free bike lending and Iain will be on hand to give advice about types of bikes and help give people confidence on a bike. Many people coming along won't have been on a bike for many years. He will also be able to advise people on some good local routes to cycle on."
Ms McNiven added that to reserve a bike from the club, Peoplehood members should use the online booking system on the tablets they received as part of the project. Non-members should email Peoplehood's local engagement co-ordinator James Farley at jamesfarley@blackwoodgroup.org.uk to secure the loan of a bike.
The event also saw the memory of Moray community stalwart Anita Milne, who was an active member of the cycling community in the region, commemorated with the unveiling of a bike storage facility dedicated to her. Mrs Milne sadly passed away on January 18.
