Annual report & accounts 2024-25

Access to bikes, cycle parking & storage

Access to bikes 

In 2024-25, through new and existing partnerships and projects, we continued our commitment to tackling transport poverty in Scotland by helping more people get access to a bike. 

With funding from Regional Transport Partnerships, Cycling Scotland supported the People & Place programme by delivering eight Access to Bikes projects across five regions, distributing over 3,500 bikes. 

In total, we worked with 37 partner organisations to ensure wide-ranging impact. These included local authorities, bike recycling organisations such as Dundee and Angus Cycle Hub and Fife Bikework, local primary schools, and NHS Fife.

Bikes were delivered to families with children who are facing barriers related to costs and wider life challenges, as well as young carers, care experienced young people, those with disabilities and those from families in receipt of benefits. 

Among others, we were funded by SEStran to support Fife-based community charity Greener Kirkcaldy to deliver a fleet of 15 e-bikes for staff use at NHS Fife’s Victoria Hospital. This holistic programme saw the development of a network of cycle champions who now provide support to colleagues who wish to cycle to/from and for work. The bikes are now fully maintained and managed by Greener Kirkcaldy.

A further example of collaboration includes the provision of 55 bikes to individuals involved in South Lanarkshire Council’s family and youth activities. None of the recipients had owned a bike before prior to participating in the scheme and many had never cycled. New helmets, D-locks and puncture repair kits were also distributed, with children benefitting from National Standard Cycle Training alongside the donation. To provide continued support, the local authority also secured a bike servicing contract to ensure all bikes are in kept in working order and to maximise usage.