Decisions about successful projects will be announced at the end of December. It would be desirable to do some preliminary work now in order to plan for implementing a successful bid - or alternatively to look for other sources of funding if this approach is unsuccessful.

Précis of Cycle Challenge Bid

Schools involved - Boroughmuir, Bruntsfield PS, James Gillespie's PS, James Gillespie's High, George Heriot's, Preston Street PS, St. Thomas of Aquin's (RC), Sciennes PS, Tollcross PS

Aim - To encourage approximately 6,000 pupils attending schools in The Meadows area of central Edinburgh to take up cycling or to cycle more. Nine schools (5 primary, 3 secondary, 1 private) are keen to co-operate in this project in a geographical area outwith the normal feeder system and look at all aspects of current and potential cycle use - leisure, sport and as a primary means of transport. The area is well provided with a rapidly expanding array of cycle paths and off-road routes.

The purpose of this applications is to fund a part time co-ordinator to work with schools to identify issues unique to each school or common to all which would lead to increased cycle use. These could be "Safe Routes" or cycle parking or Cycle Training etc. Schools would be encouraged to co-operate on common issues. A joint schools cycling club (or clubs, as it may be thought desirable to separate primary and secondary), may be formed. This would be used to encourage cycling for leisure, sport and transport.

Activities would be linked with the curriculum where possible. Schools would be encouraged to map their local areas and join with other schools to produce maps and leaflets highlighting safe routes and places to visit, including leisure facilities such as cinemas and swimming pools and long distance "adventure" routes. Formal Cycle Training would be more widely available than at present and include on-road training.

At an early stage of the project a survey of the number of pupils cycling to school or for recreation would be undertaken. Mini surveys would be done at intervals (to both monitor seasonal changes and estimate the affect of this project) and also towards the end of the year.
 

Partners/Participants SPOKES, City of Edinburgh Council, Heriot-Watt Schools of Town Planning + Architecture, Scottish Cyclists Union, Local Cycle dealers - there are 8 in the area including probably Scotland's largest - two have already agreed to take part..

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