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Cycling Scotland event fund deadline looms


By Alan Beresford

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THE clock is ticking for community organisations to apply for grants of up to £10,000 to organise free, beginner-friendly cycling events in 2022.

Some of the over 500 cyclists who enjoyed the fine weather during Sunday's Pedal Lerwick event. Photo: Kevin Jones
Some of the over 500 cyclists who enjoyed the fine weather during Sunday's Pedal Lerwick event. Photo: Kevin Jones

In 2021, Cycling Scotland supported four organisations to deliver Pedal Ayr, Pedal Lerwick, Pedal Falkirk and Pedal Highland Perthshire, with funding from Transport Scotland. These events helped make cycling accessible to more people across Scotland, with a particular focus on families and people new to cycling.

Cycling Scotland also provided funding to nine smaller events across Scotland, from Dumfries and Galloway in the south, to the Highlands and Islands in the north.

Organisations can now apply for grants of up to £10,000 to run local Pedal for Scotland events between May and September this year, for between 250 and 700 people.

Pedal for Scotland events will: Be inclusive, free and non-competitive; Be held on beginner-friendly cycling routes that don’t require technical cycling skills or high fitness levels and can be cycled on with adapted bikes and tricycles wherever possible; Showcase local cycling infrastructure; Be community-led and provide opportunities for local groups to work in partnership; Support the development of local skills and resources; Be delivered with minimal environmental impact.

There are also grants of up to £1,000 for community organisations to support local cycling events for between 50 and 250 people. Funding can be used for event set up, equipment, insurance and route support.

The events will support participants to access bikes to help more people participate.

Cycling Scotland Head of Training Christopher Johnson commented: “We’re keen to build on the success and learning from last year’s events in Ayr, Falkirk, Lerwick and Highland Perthshire to support even more people new to cycling to give it a try in a safe and fun environment.

“More people are considering cycling for the first time for their health and happiness, and as a practical and environmentally-friendly way to travel short journeys.

“We’re encouraging community organisations to apply to the Pedal for Scotland fund and to establish cycling events in their local areas.”

Since its inception, more than 110,000 people have taken part in Pedal for Scotland, an initiative that developed from the original closed-road Classic Challenge fundraising event between Glasgow and Edinburgh to include longer and shorter rides for different abilities.

Last year saw the last Classic Challenge before Pedal for Scotland evolved into a series of shorter, free events in different locations to support more people to cycle.

The deadline for applications is February 28.

For more information on the funding and how to apply, visit www.pedal.scot



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