Pedal for Scotland opens funding for 2022

Over a thousand people participated in the 2021 Pedal for Scotland events including a large proportion of families and beginners who reported big changes in their intentions to cycle more regularly having taken part.

Community organisations can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to organise free, beginner-friendly cycling events in 2022. For more information including how to apply, visit here. The deadline for applications is 28th February 2022.

The Pedal events in 2021 fulfilled the ambition of making cycling accessible to more people across Scotland, with a particular focus on families and people new to cycling. 50% of participants were taking part in their first cycling event while 53% of participants took part with a child under the age of 16.

Feedback from participants was resoundingly positive, with one participant saying “my kids were so happy, they wanted that event every day!” Another highlighted that the route had inspired them, saying they “will be cycling that route again with the children.” 

After completing a Pedal event, participants were sent a short survey to provide feedback.

When asked how often they cycled before taking part in the Pedal event, the most common answer was ‘less than once a month’ with 26%. When asked how often they planned to cycle in coming months, the most popular answer was ‘several times a week’ with 42%. ‘Less than once a month’ had dropped to 4%.

In addition to the four Pedal events, Cycling Scotland provided funding to nine smaller events across Scotland, from Dumfries & Galloway in the south, to the Highlands & Islands in the north.

Pedal Lerwick (Shetland Islands)

The King George V Park in Lerwick was the start and finish point for a closed-road route through the heart of Lerwick. People used a wide variety of bikes including tandems, tricycles and recumbent bikes to enjoy the route in beautiful weather.

Pedal Ayr (South Ayrshire)

Pedal Ayr showcased some of the best cycle routes in Ayrshire with the event covering a 7.2-mile route, starting and finishing at the Low Green park which sits next to the National Cycle Network Route 7.

Pedal Highland Perthshire (Perth and Kinross)

Pedal Highland Perthshire was set in the stunning grounds of Blair Castle in Blair Atholl. The route took in a variety of estate tracks and quiet single-track roads. The route was 3 miles long and could be enjoyed more than once.

Pedal Falkirk (Falkirk)

Pedal Falkirk returned to the venue of several ‘Wee Jaunt’ events in the past, following a traffic-free route starting and finishing at the Helix Park in Falkirk and passing the iconic Kelpies statues.