Covid-19 update - May 2020

Following the latest public health advice concerning coronavirus, our priority is to follow the protocols and protect the wellbeing of everyone we work with and the wider community. We have postponed and altered our support services, training courses and other activities accordingly. Thanks to everyone for your understanding, adaptability and team spirit.

Advice on cycling

It remains advisable to walk or cycle for your health and wellbeing. If you’re not self-isolating, we recommend walking or cycling for both essential journeys and exercise. As of 11 May, you can exercise outside more than once each day.

It’s important to:

• Cycle or walk alone, or with members of your household
• Keep two metres away from others
• Wash your hands on arrival at your destination 
• Stay local and cycle within your ability level

Cycling is generally a low-risk activity but with our emergency services under pressure, it’s important that we all take steps to manage risk wherever we can. Please only cycle on routes you know well, that are close to home (in case of mechanical problems) and that are well within your ability level. To avoid unnecessary travel, Forestry and Land Scotland and many national parks have asked that no one drives to land that they manage.

If you're cycling on shared paths, please be considerate of walkers, runners and other people cycling: stay two metres from others, slow your pace and stop to let people pass. 

Training

The majority of scheduled, non-essential, cycle training supported by Cycling Scotland is cancelled until further notice.

Some local authorities are running Bikeability Scotland training in hub schools for key workers’ children. The training is being carried out with a reduced number of pupils and following strict public health protocols, including physical distancing and good hygiene practices. Under these circumstances Cycling Scotland fully supports this activity.

Cycling Friendly grant funding

We would like to reassure all Cycling Friendly organisations of our understanding and support for issues you may now be facing in delivering funded projects. If you have applied for or received grant funding from us, please note: 

• Where a grant offer has been made, this will be paid on time, subject to the submission of relevant paperwork.
• If you are experiencing difficulties achieving any agreed outputs or outcomes because of the new circumstances, please contact us to discuss.
• Similarly, if you think you will struggle to meet a project delivery or reporting deadline because of restrictions, please contact us to agree a revised time frame. 

Whilst the overall terms and conditions which apply to your grant will continue, we understand you may need more time and we are here to support you to achieve the outcomes.

Cycling Friendly awards

Please note our nationally recognised award assessments will continue with online and telephone guidance and support; further details are available at cyclingfriendly.scot.

Pedal for Scotland

We are delaying the launch of our new, family-friendly events and hope to be able to share details in the summer.

Contact us

In line with advice from the Scottish Government, our staff have now moved to home working. Our development officers can be contacted by email or mobile if you are already in touch with them or you can:

• Email the Cycling Friendly team: cyclingfriendly@cycling.scot
• Email the training team: training@cycling.scot
• Email TP&E: info@tpande.org

Updates

We are following the latest advice from the Scottish Government and will update our guidance as and when the situation changes. These next few months are going to be difficult for everyone but we will work together to find our way through.

Read more on the NHS Inform Covid-19 Physical Activity web page.