better by bike.
Hey,
Look who Team Green Britain chose for their principal Cycle Festival image, none other than Duncan Shaw of The Clan, the UK’s most exciting and daring bike display team, at the Bishopbriggs Cycle Festival, taken by Ian MacNicol.
Go Duncan, go The Clan, go cycle Bishopbriggs!
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Today, over 8,000 primary pupils will receive a Cycle Map of East Dunbartonshire. The map has been developed in partnership between East Dunbartonshire’s Cycle Co-operative and East Dunbartonshire Council, with funding from the Climate Challenge Fund and Sustrans.
ED's Cycle Co-op Cycle Map Planning
The map has been published in time for the UK’s Bike Week and distributed by East Dunbartonshire Council to every primary pupil in their final week of term, before heading off on their summer break. The map contains many of the local routes that have been used by the St. Matthew’s Primary School Cycle Club over the past year.
Mick Ashworth, local cycle enthusiast, professional cartographer and director of Ashworth Maps and Interpretation Ltd who designed the map said…“It will hopefully encourage families to explore East Dunbartonshire’s rich natural and cultural heritage by bike. The routes are very varied, interesting and fun. It’s been great to be involved in a project which is getting more people cycling and out and about in the local countryside.”
Anne McNair's Cycle Map
Anne McNair, a director of ED’s Cycle Co-op, local councillor and a regular member of the School Cycle Club said, “I am delighted that primary pupils and their families will receive this Cycle Map of East Dunbartonshire during the UK’s Bike Week and in time for the school summer break. I have enjoyed cycling many of these routes and I feel sure that the map will inspire more young people to get out doors on their bikes over the summer. I know that the club and the routes have already rekindled the enthusiasm for cycling not just in the young, but with some more mature members of our community, especially one grandmother aged 71.
Marianne Emardy, mother of four
..As a family with 4 young children it had proved difficult to get the bikes to somewhere safe to use them effectively….This club has meant that we now have the confidence and knowledge to go out cycling as a family and this has now become a regular pastime for us all. We now cycle to school whenever we can and “are we going cycling tonight?” is the first thing they say when we come home. I am no longer too scared to go out cycling as a family in case something happens. We know that we can cycle safely and we will cycle as much as we can!
Get out doors
The Emardy family, mum Marianne, dad Stephen, Stephen(8), Connor(7), twins Ben and Chloe (6)
We would really like to get your comments and thoughts on the Cycle Map of East Dunbartonshire, please ‘Leave a reply’. We will attempt to use your suggestions in the next revision and you can always download a copy of the latest map from the ED’s Cycle Map page.
The Bishopbriggs Primary School Cycle Club is gearing up for the next course in August 2010. If you want to know more about what we do, watch our 4 min. YouTube and have a read of a few testimonials of our cycle trainers and families at the Bishopbriggs Primary School Cycle Club.
club ethos:
“…safe, structured and supporting environment“, Terry
“..relaxed and friendly atmosphere…building friendships across the schools in our community“, Michelle;
“Good to socialise with other parents in a similar situation … overall was an excellent experience – well organised and really enthusiastic coaches. First class“, Andrew
personal development:
“Leanne went from at 9 o’clock this morning not being able to ride her bike at all to within a few hours going on her own. I’m sure by the end of the cycle club she will be confident and able enough for us to use ours bikes a lot more often especially to school“, Sarah-jayne
“It has encouraged me to get my other children on their bikes much earlier so we can all participate in cycling as a family as part of a more healthy lifestyle“, Terry
“..going further and on rougher terrain than we ever thought possible with a 6 year old…It’s made me more relaxed on my bike which in turn gives me greater confidence to take the kids out on more challenging cycle trips instead of sticking to parks and paved paths which must be quite boring for them“, Michelle;
“..also helped me understand how best to approach teaching my daughter when the time comes”, Andrew
“The club has firstly made myself come out of my shell a bit. There is simply no way I would ever have decided to do this myself unless a club like this came along. My son and I were so happy and excited when we returned home. It gave us huge amounts of confidence and a sense of achievement …it’s got me looking at cyclists in a different light now“, Asea
Over a thousand local residents enjoyed one of the most spectacular afternoons in Bishopbriggs. The UK most daring cycle stunt team The Clan enthralled the audience with their breathtaking tricks and big air show. Our own home grown talent also put on an excellent show with their own brand of bmx stunts in the Bishopbriggs bmX Factor.
The inaugural event was formally opened by Jo Swinson MP, David Whitton MSP, former Miss Scotland and Miss UK Nieve Jennings and Jonathan Ashworth, one of Bishopbriggs most active cycle campaigners.
There were lots of fantastic activities to take part in during the afternoon including funny bikes (tandems, trikes, rickshaws, electric bikes), obstacle courses, KSI ramps, Dr Bike, Police security marking by Strathclyde Police and Primary Pupil Races with winners from St. Matthew’s, Wester Cleddens, Meadowburn and Woodhill Primary Schools. For a heap of photo’s from the day check out ED’sFlickr site.
We are all indebted to the voluntary support of the following:
Thanks also for the time put in by all the stall holders including the
download the 2010_BishopbriggsCycleFestivalFlyer
Come and have a great afternoon with ED's Cycle Co-op.
St. Matthew's Magnificent 'Cycling' Seven
Seven cycling scholars from St. Matthew’s Primary School, Bishopbriggs, took part in this year’s Pedal for Scotland, Cycling Scotland’s annual bike ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh on Sunday, 13th Sept. This year’s participation was up 25% on last year, with more than 7,000 people taking part from all over Scotland.
Alexander Forrester, P7 pupil said, “I really wanted to ride this years Pedal for Scotland as I have been taking part in the monthly School Cycle Club sessions at the Leisuredrome. I’ve built my confidence by riding around the local area, but now that I’ve done Glasgow to Edinburgh I feel I can ride just about anywhere. I love riding to school everyday, it‘s much better by bike and helps me keep fit.”
St. Matthew’s Primary School was the first in East Dunbartonshire to receive a Cycle Friendly School Award. Last year only one pupil completed the 50-mile trip, but following the award and the development of a School Cycle Club another six pupils took part and received their well-earned medals. The school hope that many more will take up the challenge in the coming years and encourage more children to take a healthy and environmentally friendly way to school.
St. Matthew’s Primary School has recently won an £18,777 grant from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund to encourage more people to take to their bikes over the next two years, especially addressing the school run. The funding has enabled the club to provide professional practical instruction in cycle skills, bike maintenance, and First Aid as well as taking participants on guided local rides looking at the natural and cultural heritage of East Dunbartonshire. The school is also working with East Dunbartonshire Council to develop a cycle map, utilizing these local routes, to highlighting off road family rides.
Many of the Magnificent ‘Cycling’ Seven who completed the Pedal for Scotland event, cycle to school everyday. They can clock up as many as 400 miles a year on their bikes, just from travelling one mile to and from school each weekday.
The St Matthew’s pupils also got to meet Scottish stunt riding sensation Danny MacAskill and ride his bike following their efforts.
Encouraging more people to cycle is good for their health and also great news for everyone’s environment. Encouraging pupils to cycle to school is especially beneficial, easing congestion and improving air quality for the pupils around the school at these critical times. It also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to Climate Change on a global level.
Photo, from left to right: Beth Cowie, Patrick Kiehlmann, Alexander Forrester, Anna Begen, Rachel McNair, Josh Holland, Abbey Begen.
Today, more than 25 people joined in with ED’s Cycle Co-op to take part in Scotland largest public participation bike ride, Pedal for Scotland 2009. Around 7,000 other took part in the glorious weather in the bike ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh.
The participants were mainly from Bishopbriggs, with pupils from St. Matthew’s, Westercleddens and Meadowburn Primaries as well as Bishopbriggs Academcy and Turnbull High School.
Some of the young folks even got to meet their hero, Mr Danny McAskill and ride his bike!
The St. Matthew’s Primary School Cycle Club took a trip to Glentress in Scotland premier mountain bike centre in September 09. 15 members took to the green and blue trails as well as spending time in the skills area and free ride park.
Getting the hang of mountain biking in the skills area of Glentress
Take a look at some of photos from the day on our flickr site.
