Photo opportunity: Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, officially opening The Bike Station Community Hub – with key representative from the Bike Station and local residents -Saturday 20th May at 1pm, 509 Victoria Road
CYCLING charity, Glasgow Bike Station, is gearing up to launch a new community cycling hub in the city’s south-side.
The charity is already a firm favourite with cyclists, whether they are new, returning or hard-core bike enthusiasts.
However, their new venture on Victoria Road will offer a programme of cycling activities for free – thanks to support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the South City Way – a new cycle infrastructure project for the area.
Locals and visitors alike can take advantage of group bike rides, a bike lending library, maintenance classes, events and cycle training – delivered throughout the year from the community hub.
Begins a spokesperson: “A recent study carried out by Glasgow University found regular cycling cuts the risk of death from any cause by 41 per cent, and the incidence of cancer and heart disease by 45 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively.
“The Bike Station Community Hub will help local people access the support and advice they need to reap these major health benefits.”
The Hub officially launches on the 20th May with a grand opening catering for all the family.
Head of Projects, Victoria Leiper, said: “At the launch event, we will showcase the range of services and activities which will be on offer from the hub.
“You can expect group bike rides, a free bike check over from our Dr Bike, Bling your Bike, cycling games and challenges, a bike powered smoothie maker, as well as some extra special treats such as live music, food, cake, face-painting and more!
“We are really keen to engage local people by making cycling as easy as possible – whether you are six or 64!”
Opening the community hub will be Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf.
The Scottish Government have a vision that, by 2020, ten per cent of all journeys taken in Scotland will be by bicycle.
Community-based resources such as the Bike Station’s new hub are helping to make this vision a reality.
The Bike Station is working in partnership with the team behind the South City Way – which includes Glasgow City Council, Sustrans and the Scottish Government.
The new multi-million pound cycle infrastructure project connecting Queens Park to the Merchant City will offer a safer, faster and more coherent cycle route that will expand Glasgow’s cycle network.
Andy Waddell, head of Infrastructure and Environment at Glasgow City Council, said: “There’s no doubt that cycling is more popular in Glasgow than ever before; with the number of people choosing to travel in and out of the city centre by bike increasing some 222 per cent in less than a decade.
“The opening of the Bike Station community cycling hub on Victoria Road will help support the council in the development and implementation of the South City Way, as well as providing the local community with a range of events, services and training opportunities.”
ENDS
Notes for editors:
For more information, including on attending the photo opportunity, contact
Victoria Leipher
Glasgow Bike Station
65 Haugh Road
Glasgow
G3 8TX
Tel: 0141 248 5409 – option 4
Web: http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/glasgow
Email: victoria@thebikestation.org.uk
About the Bike Station
Glasgow Bike Station is the city’s largest bike recycling charity. Our mission is to improve lives through cycling.
We achieve our aim by selling reconditioned bicycles at a low cost, by providing bike maintenance and on-road cycle training and by delivering a programme of outreach, community-focused projects.
Our main beneficiaries are those on a low income who are new or returning cyclists and are looking for a low cost travel option together with advice and guidance.
We are currently running four key community based projects directly benefiting students, nursery children and their families, young people who are NEET and those with long term health conditions. The combined reach of these projects is over 20,000.
In addition, we have a long-term partnership with the Scottish Prison Service, offering work placements and training for offenders.
About the South City Way
See https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=19365
About the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
“Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities throughout the UK both now and in the future. We do this by funding the charitable work of organisations with the ideas and ability to achieve positive change.
“The Foundation is one of the largest independent grant-makers in the UK.
“We make grants of £30 – £35 million annually towards a wide range of work within the arts, children and young people, the environment, social change and food. We also commit up to £35 million in social investments in organisations that aim to deliver both a financial return and a social benefit.”
About the launch event
Activities on the day kick off from 12noon and include:
Dr Bike
Group rides
Face-painting
Henna
Bling your bike
Cycling games
Skills track
Live music
Buffet + cake
Information stalls from local partners
From 1pm, we will welcome Minister for Transport and Islands, Humza Yousaf, to officially ‘open’ the hub.
He will say a few words before cutting the bike cake!
Photo opportunities from 1pm.
About the Bike Station Community Hub
The hub will complement a wider cycle infrastructure improvement project funded by the Scottish Government via Community Links Plus.
The hub will offer a range of cycle services, events and learning opportunities for the local community such as:
Weekly group rides for adults, families and young people
Maintenance classes
FYOB sessions
Events such as film nights and speaker events
Access to a bike lending library
Cycle training
Street/park-based event
Volunteering and training opportunities
A business engagement ‘loyalty card’
The project is working towards three main changes in the community:
* Increase opportunities for local people to engage and participate in community events/activities.
* Increase the number of short journeys by bike in the local area by ten per cent. This will serve to reduce the harmful effects of driving for short distances on the environment, reduce local congestion and improve air quality.
* Increase connection to the local natural environment, providing opportunities for those in an urban environment to enjoy their natural surroundings without the need for a car or expensive public transport. By encouraging a greater level of cycling and time spent on a bike, we will also see an increase in health and wellbeing of our target community.
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Glasgow Bike Station contact details…
Contact: Victoria Leiper
