Cycle pilot scheme to be launched in Aberdeenshire
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A Sustrans led scheme is set to provide bikes to children without them and prioritise those who potentially cannot afford them in a number of local authorities including Aberdeenshire Council.
The pilot aims to support approximately 700 children in three local authorities in Scotland aged nine to 14-years-old and will be trialled in three ways including a fleet of bikes for each school, bike libraries for long term bike loans, and by a pool of bikes, including adaptive bikes, which will be loaned out by pupils who don't have access to one.
Finally, there will be options for pupils to be given ownership of a bike either through provision of their loan after a given period or using a voucher to buy a new bike.
Transport Minister Graeme Dey said: “The benefits of providing greater access to bikes for children are obvious.
"It ensures equality of opportunity in building life skills, confidence, independence and embeds healthy and sustainable travel habits from a young age. Ensuring that more children can choose active travel including cycling is vital to help meet our world leading net zero targets.
Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has backed a pilot scheme and said: "This will be a brilliant pilot scheme and I am delighted it will be coming to Aberdeenshire.
"It is clear there is a strength of ambition to ensure the provision of greater access to bikes for children.
"There are clear benefits to providing greater access to bikes for children and ensuring opportunity to help build life skills, confidence, independence and help embed healthy and sustainable travel habits from a young age.
"It will also mean more children can choose active travel which will go towards helping us meet our world leading net zero targets."
As yet there is no official confirmation of which school or schools and whether they will be of primary or secondary age in Aberdeenshire.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: “We have not yet identified the hubs for the project at this stage, however officers will be speaking to academies along with colleagues in Live Life Aberdeenshire to identify those which will be participating in the trial.”
