Pupils in Bishopbriggs are the most cycle-friendly in Scotland according to a leading cycling publication.

In an article on Cycle Friendly Schools, the Spring edition of Cycling Scotland News praises various Scottish educational establishments for encouraging cycling and adds: “But the most cycle friendly place in Scotland for schoolchildren has to be Bishopbriggs in East Dunbartonshire, where five out of the six primaries in the town became Cycle Friendly schools.”

The magazine, produced by government-backed Cycling Scotland, went on to discuss the newly installed Blue Blades signs in and around the Kirkintilloch/Lenzie path network and the new maps, available now from Healthy Habits.

Convener of Development and Infrastructure Billy Hendry said, “Obviously we’re delighted with this accolade but we’re not prepared to rest on our laurels. There are so many cycle-friendly ideas the Council are currently putting into practice. This includes putting hoops around lampposts to make it easier to lock bikes, installing a cycle rack at Lenzie Train Station, organising a number of family-friendly trips through the Healthy Habits Cycle Club, and resurfacing paths from Strathblane to Lennoxtown, Strathkelvin Railway and along the Firth and Clyde Canal from St Ninians High School to the Bridge in Hillhead.”

East Dunbartonshire Council are also training six youngsters aged 18 to 24 to become bike mechanics at their Cycle Recycle Scheme. The trainees re-condition second-hand bikes then sell them on to individuals and families who can’t afford to buy new. A brain child of the Council’s Transport Management Organisation (TMO), around 100 bikes have already been given a new lease of life, while 40 have been sold on.

Meanwhile another cycling highlight was the recent Cycle Festival which attracted an impressive 1500 people. Organised by the ED Cycle Co-op, it was sponsored by the Council and local business.

Convener Hendry added, “As a means of transport, you can’t beat cycling. It’s healthy, great for the environment, reduces congestion on roads, leads to family time together and makes the pennies stretch further. If enough people took to their bikes then motorists would acknowledge this and give cyclists the space they deserve on Scotland’s roads.”

For further information on cycling initiatives contact the Council’s TMO tel: 0141 700 8628 or to pick up a map of cycle routes from Healthy Habits, 55 Cowgate, Kirkintilloch tel: 0141 777 3020.

Source: East Dunbartonshire Council http://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk  (8/7/2010)