The new Commonwealth Games Legacy Active Travel Programme was launched earlier this week (29 Oct) by Keith Brown, Scotland’s transport minister.
The programme aims to encourage people of all ages to take steps towards an active, healthier lifestyle and will be delivered by a range of partners including CTC/Youth Scotland, Cycling Scotland, Forth Environment Link, Paths for All and Sustrans.
Keith Brown said: “It goes without saying that cycling and walking benefits the individual with not just physical benefits, but benefits for mental health, the environment and keeping people’s transport costs down.
“This new programme encourages people of all ages to take steps towards an active, healthier lifestyle and outlines how the success of the Games has had a positive impact on Scotland’s communities.
“The Scottish Government aims to get more people making active travel choices to improve health and the environment. During this year and next we are increasing our expenditure on cycling and walking infrastructure by a further £27 million to deliver projects that promote active travel for everyday commuter journeys.”
Christopher Johnson, senior development officer for Cycling Scotland, said: “Promoting active travel is at the heart of everything we do at Cycling Scotland, and the huge range of benefits that come from cycling are undeniable.
“Cycling improves health and productivity and Cycling Scotland’s projects such as Bikeability Scotland, Cycle Friendly School and Employer Awards and the Give Me Cycle Space campaign support and enable thousands of people of all ages and abilities to cycle more often.
“Whether that means cycling to school, work, the shops or to visit friends and family, the Active Travel Legacy Programme will help to make cycling an achievable everyday activity for thousands more people across Scotland.”
Many schools make provision for cycle storage and modern storage is light years ahead of the old bike shed, with interesting designs, polycarbonate roofing and secure parking systems pretty much standard these days.
The more children that cycle, the fewer cars there will be around the school gate. In my (rather long) experience and regardless of cloakroom provision, young people have always preferred to avoid wearing “suitable” weather proof clothing to school or college, or anywhere – myself included, to my mother’s despair.
Honor Byford, Chair, Road Safety GB
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I think that I have identified a problem. If we are to promote cycling to schools where are the kids going to park their bikes? Car parks already overflow onto the road for teachers and others employed at the schools. I see kids going to school in absolutely atrocious weather conditions, pouring rain, snow, etc. without any overcoat on or umbrellas and dripping wet, presumably all day and why? simply because there is no longer a provision for overcoats, ie.no cloakrooms. Similarly there are no secure available parking facilities at any schools so that’s going to deter increased cycling. also the fear of theft will act as a deterrent.
bob craven Lancs
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