Edinburgh's Bike Station receive first ever Cycling Scotland accreditation

Cyclists in the capital can now visit Scotland’s very first fully accredited cycle training centre, giving lessons on all aspects of bike skills, road safety, maintenance, and even construction.

The Bike Station, based in Waverley Station, has just received official backing from Cycling Scotland, the nation’s foremost cycling authority. The Bike Station has been running courses on cycling for years, including a course on how to build your own bike from scratch.

Now, following expert training from the Scottish Executive’s cycling branch, Cycling Scotland, the centre has become the first of many similar organisations to achieve a national standard in cycling education and training.

The Bike Station received their official certification earlier this month. Bike Station project manager Mark Sydenham said: “"We are glad to be working with Cycling Scotland, offering accredited cycle training in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Research shows that people who take cycle training are much more likely to carry on cycling once they start than those who haven't, so this is an effective way of getting people fit and healthy, and out of their cars, onto their bikes".

"The Bike Station will now be able to offer cycle training along with the other services it provides, such as bike recycling, low cost bicycles to those who need them and bike maintenance training".

Jim Riach, Education and Training Manager at Cycling Scotland, said the award was a milestone for Scottish cycling: “Not being a confident enough cyclist to cope on the busy roads in a major barrier to cycling in Scotland. We are now on the first step towards achieving a national standard in cycle training. The more organisations that achieve Cycling Scotland accreditation, the more opportunities there are for people to get training and increase their cycling confidence. Hopefully, that will mean more cyclists, less cars and quieter roads to ride on.”