The event is called Cylathon and as well asproviding local groups with a fun opportunity to fundraise, it will deliver another important Rotarian commitment, to promote a healthy community lifestyle while promoting the delights of our local scenery and amenities.

It begins at 9.30 on Sunday 29th April and being flagged off by Keith Brown Scottish Transport Minister. Clubs, groups of friends and families will be encouraged to take up the Cyclathon challenge – to cycle along the Sustrans cycle track from Alloa Health Centre to a big “well‐done” at Dollarfield House, Dollar where they finish.

For more info please contact Iain Ballantine on 01259 760156 or email at bands34@btinternet.com

These interactive courses will give staff useful skills ranging from developing travel plans to engaging with stakeholders to learning how to promote use of your cycling infrastructure.

Forthcoming classes:

Ayrshire – Promoting Cycling – Morning starts 13th March 2012 » Register your interest in this class.

Ayrshire – Cycling and Health- Afternoon starts 13th March 2012 » Register your interest in this class.

Ayrshire-Planning and Designing for Cyclists – AM starts 20th March 2012 » Register your interest in this class.

Ayrshire- Economic Benefits – Afternoon starts 20th March 2012 » Register your interest in this class.

MCM – Planning and Designing, Fort William starts 22nd February 2012

Fife Council – Importance of Cycling (am) starts 12th March 2012 » Register your interest in this class.

Fife Council – Targets and Monitoring (pm) starts 12th March 2012 » Register your interest in this class.

Fife Council – Travel Planning (am) starts 13th March 2012 » Register your interest in this class.

Fife Council – Assessment & Evaluation (pm) starts 13th March 2012 » Register your interest in this class.

For those of a certain age, the “Cycling Proficiency Scheme” conjures up memories of wobbling round school playgrounds in pursuit of a badge. These days, however, things are a very different. The new Cycling Proficiency Scheme is known as “Bikeability Scotland” and an appeal has been launched to encourage adults interested in teaching cycling skills to volunteer for it.

To volunteer for Bikeability Scotland Please fill out the form below.

To watch the BBC Scotland footage please click here.

The adventure zone includes a mountain bike skills course, Early Years discovery learning area and a low-ropes course; all of which are designed to develop skills and confidence of all ages and abilities.

Pupils from Fernielea School and Kingswells School will take part in a half-day ‘Go Mountain Bike’ session while other pupils from Kingswells School will tackle the giant mobile climbing tower, traverse wall and low-ropes course.

The zone has been designed specifically to enrich outdoor learning provision in the city as part of Aberdeen City Council’s focus on Curriculum for Excellence.

The mountain bike skills area has been developed to provide Cycling Scotland ‘Go-Mountain Bike’ courses.

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Peter Stephen said: “This is an exciting and fun way to enjoy the great outdoors, learn new skills and will hopefully encourage a life long interest in healthy living.”

Adventure Aberdeen team leader Jonathan Kitching said: “The Adventure Aberdeen facility is now fully setup to welcome school and community groups who wish to work positively on aspects of the Curriculum for Excellence.

“It’s our vision to have the ‘Adventure Zone’ used by learners from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire between the ages of 3 to 18 – come rain or shine, all year round. This fantastic facility demonstrates Aberdeen City Council’s commitment to outdoor learning and inclusive education for all abilities and needs.”

To ensure the safety of participants all on-site activities can only be used while under qualified supervision.

For more information please click here.

Cycling Scotland’s Business Cycling Seminar is the first national cycling event for Scottish workplaces.

Friday, March 16, 2012 from 9:45 AM to 2:00 PM (GMT)

Edinburgh

This half-day event, promoted by Cycling Scotland and partners at The Bike Station, is designed to ensure your business or organisation can make the the most of the cost savings available by promoting cycling.

Aimed at workplace cycle champions, those involved in the organisation’s finances, and those looking to ensure measures are effective, the seminar will have a focus on practical tips and information.

We will also be celebrating success as we present those organisations who have attained Cycle Friendly Employer Awards with their certificates.

Full details of the agenda will be announced shortly, and will include:

0945 - Registration, tea and coffee

1000 –  Introduction

1010 – Tax and VAT – Translating HMRC guidelines including salary sacrifice schemes (guest speaker)

1050 – Financing your cycling – round table and plenary session with guests from private, public and tertiary sector

1200 – Support Serivces ‘Dragons Den’ – Five presenters pitch a service for your vote.  Action planning and the chance to win one of five service prizes (including Dr Bike, Commuter Course) for your organisation

1245 – Cycle Friendly Employer Award ceremony

1315 – Lunch and close

This conference is entirely free!  However, there will be a £25 cancellation fee so please consider carefully before booking.

To book your place please click here.

The Aberdeenshire Community Transport Initiative (ACTI) was established in April 2008, following the transfer of responsibilities for such funding from the Scottish Government to local authorities.

Grants are awarded of up to 75% of project costs for the provision of community based rural passenger transport such as community buses, dial-a-trip services, and voluntary car schemes.

ACTI currently provides grant funding to seven local groups who were previously funded by the Scottish Government.

These are: Buchan Dial-a-Community Bus, Banffshire Partnership Limited, Ballater Royal Deeside Limited, Mid Deeside Limited (Deeside Community Transport Group), Mearns Community Transport, The Silver Circle and WRVS.

WRVS has a three year grant up to March 2013, and after it was asked to reduce costs for 2012/13 it has reduced its funding request from £27,351 to £25,160.

The six other groups are seeking funding of £332,169 for the financial year 2012/13.

Given the council’s current financial position, the funding will run for one year if approved by councillors, having previously been allocated for a three-year period.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Policy and Resources Committee will be asked to approve the applications at a meeting next Thursday.

The overall amount is a reduction of around 10%, or £40,000, on previous annual funding packages, decided by Full Council at the start of last year.

Community groups were advised in February 2011, to allow them time to plan how to manage the reduction ahead of its implementation.

They were encouraged to seek alternative funding sources, make efficiency savings or increase charges if possible to try to avoid the need to reduce services.

Council officers worked with some of the groups to achieve the efficiency savings, resulting in lower applications for funding.

Only Buchan Dial-a-Community Bus anticipates the reduction will have a direct impact on services, specifically its Alternative Patient Transport Service. The group’s funding would drop by £7,759 to £120,027 per year.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Head of Transportation, Ewan Wallace, said:

“Our officers are continuing to speak to Buchan Dial-a-Community Bus to help them identify alternative sources of funding.

“As the service is aimed at patient transport, we are also speaking to NHS Grampian about any assistance which it may be able to give.

“Work is also currently being done by public sector partners to look at the wider delivery of patient transport under the Health and Transportation Action Plan, so there is potential here for any gap in service to be filled.

“Of course, it is up to all of the groups how they allocate the funds we provide – they do have the option of looking at overheads generally, or to levy a small increase in charges to the users of that service.”

Due to the current financial position of the council, it is not considered appropriate to agree further funding beyond 2013. Any proposed grant awards for the financial year 2013/14 onwards will be the subject of a future committee report.

For original article please click here.

Cycling Scotland is pleased to offer two free ‘Making Cycling Mainstream’ training courses on shared-use path/cycle-route demonstration projects during March 2012.

Please pass this email onto colleagues who may also be interested.

The first course is on March 7th at Cycling Scotland’s offices in Glasgow reviewing the Connect 2 project. The training day will look at the existing environment found on the Connect 2 project prior to construction. We will use workshop techniques and our newly commissioned video footage of the project in the morning before heading out in the afternoon to review the installed infrastructure which is making a difference in Glasgow. This particular course looks at the installation of shared footways and designated cycle ways.

The second course is on March 23rd out on the Devon Way in Alloa. The training day updates previous visits and will review the impact of the winter months on the various surfaces. This will include tackling the maintenance question of what is appropriate and what would change behaviour.  No prior experience of the project is required.

The agenda for the days will be sent out a week prior to the course.

To sign up for the above courses please click here or contact me.

Cycling Scotland would like to thank Sustrans, Paths for All, Clackmannanshire Council and Glasgow City Council for the opportunity to provide the courses.

Regards

Peter Leslie

Cycling Scotland – Engineering

0141 229 5352

www.cyclingscotland.org

STV weatherman gets on his bike with Cycling Scotland

Scotland’s favourite weatherman, STV’s Sean Batty, was put through his cycling paces this week as he launched a new campaign calling for volunteers for Bikeability Scotland under the watchful eye of pupils from St Bernard’s Primary School, Pollok.

Sean and the kids were out in force to encourage people from all walks of life to consider volunteering as a Bikeability Scotland instructor, which not only allows them to give something back to their local community, but also gives them a nationally recognised qualification.

Sean said: “I have fond memories of my own experiences with Cycling Proficiency and the Bikeability Scotland programme has taken that to a new level, with increased focus on instilling confidence and keeping young people safe on the roads.

“Last summer I undertook a challenge for the STV Appeal to cycle 130 miles from Stornoway to Lochboisdale in just two days. It was a hugely enjoyable experience for me and I was able to get fit but also appreciate a lot more around me on my journey, so it’s really great to see so many pupils embracing cycling.

“You don’t have to be an expert to get involved. Anyone with an interest in cycling can sign up to become a Bikeability volunteer and help Cycling Scotland to deliver this fantastic programme to young people across Scotland.”

If you are interested in volunteering then log on to www.bikeabilityscotland.org or follow the conversation on Twitter #bikeabilityscot