Learning from the best, Scottish success…..that’s their words, not ours.

Active Travel Active Scotland is the latest publication from the Scottish sustainable transport thinktank, Transform Scotland, which features the work of ED’s Cycle Co-op in the chapter entitled, Learning from the best, Scottish success…

ED’s Cycle Co-op bike ride

Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire has seen a significant growth in cycling as a result of various cycling activities and promotional events, which has been coordinated by a not for profit community social enterprise, ED’s Cycle Co-op. Nearly 8% of P5 and P6 pupils now cycle to primary school across seven primaries in Bishopbriggs – this is nearly three times the Scottish national average of primary pupils cycling to school. In one instance, St Matthew’s Primary School, cycling levels were almost 20%, double the Scottish Government target of 10% journeys by bike by 2020. The project has involved working with schools and the community, through cycle clubs, events, training, and information provision.

There are four other Scottish case studies highlighted:

1. Dundee Active Travel, a Smarter Choices Smarter Places project;
2. Steps Tay Health, NHS Tayside and Paths For All;
3. Go For It Aberdeenshire, Aberdeenshire Council and Grampian Police’s Road Safety Unit;
4. City of Edinburgh Council, the only city in the UK to sign up to the Charter for Brussels for a 15% cycle mode share.

The report, published by an alliance of active travel and sustainable transport organisations including Cycling Scotland, Sustrans and Paths For All sets out how government can help deliver growth in walking and cycling through a practical and achievable action plan. It also features international case studies:

• Brighton & Hove, England, one of Cycling Englands’ ‘cycling demonstration towns’ has seen a rise in cycling rates to 3%;
• Copenhagen, Denmark, where cycling rates are in excess of 30%;
• Stockholm, Sweden, where as it had similar cycling rates to Scotland ten years ago, it currently has achieved cycle rate of 6%.

Clearly, there are “lessons to be learnt” from what we’ve achieved and how we do continue to do it…hmmm sounds like a good title for a book…..