Council / Bike library for bairns among active travel projects being considered by council
A LERWICK bike library for some primary and secondary school age children is one of a number of active travel projects being proposed.
Shared bike and walking paths in Aith, Swinister, from Lower Voe to Tagon and from Setter to Veester Hill are also among the schemes put forward by the council.
Funding for the projects could come from Transport Scotland, with the SIC set to submit a grant request if the plans are approved by councillors at next Tuesday’s ZetTrans meeting.
Grants totalling £523,673 could be issued to Cycling UK, Scottish Cycling, Paths for All and Love to Ride UK for a string of active travel projects being planned for the next year and beyond.
Scottish Cycling is seeking £89,650 for its Rock Up and Ride project, which would see a library of around 20 “quality bikes” set aside for bairns to use.
It could bring a “behavioural change programme” targeted at primary school aged children “to provide greater confidence and competence to cycle”.
“Since 50 per cent of Shetland residents live in the town of Lerwick, or within a 10-mile radius of Lerwick, the project will partner with a local deliverer to introduce a bike library at a location to be agreed in Lerwick,” Scottish Cycling said.
“The project will focus on pupils from P6 and P7 in Bell’s Brae and Sound primary schools, and younger Anderson High School children, as required.”
It said bairns would be given “free access to bikes”, as well as fun and inclusive rides and cycling skills training.
“The bikes will also be serviced to keep them running smoothly and safely,” Scottish Cycling said.
“Rides and cycling sessions will be delivered by friendly and supportive qualified cycling ride leaders or coaches utilising school areas, quiet roads, parks and other open spaces near to the schools, to provide a safe, fun and inclusive cycling experience.”
Cycling UK could be given £186,333 for two projects – a community-focused scheme to deliver a range of “walking, wheeling and cycling activities in communities where other support is absent”, and the other a funding stream to find organisations needing new or pre-used bikes, or to have their bikes repaired.
And Love to Ride UK could be in line for £42,500 for a programme to inspire people to ride bikes more often.
The SIC is also proposing to set aside £132,986 in “capacity and capability building” to create a dedicate post for active and sustainable travel.
In a report to go before the ZetTrans committee on Tuesday, the council said money should be allocated to support additional resources in the “already stretched” transport planning service.
Shetland Islands Council has also submitted an ask for £1,786,652 in funding from Transport Scotland for active travel infrastructure projects.
If approved, the money for all the projects would come entirely from Scottish Government, with no capital cost to the council.
Among these projects are plans for a shared cycling and walking pathway in Aith – at a cost of £379,620 – and another in Swinister.
Shared use paths would also be constructed from Setter to Veester Hill, and from Lower Voe to Tagon.
A footway could also be built in Symbister in Whalsay, as well as traffic calming measures outside Bells Brae primary school.
Also included in the request is an ask of £310,055 to design sections of a potential cycle route between Lerwick and Scalloway.
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