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Access to bikes

Travelling by bike helps connect people to work, education, social activities, and opportunities. Across Scotland, inequality of access and costs related to public transport can isolate people from essential services and job opportunities. Over a third of households lack car access in cities like Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

For young people, those with low incomes, insecure jobs or disabilities, cycling offers independent travel and a way of accessing essential services and leisure activities.

We work with NestransSEStransStrathclyde Partnership for TransportSWestrans and Tactran, supporting the delivery of the People & Place programme.

What support is available?

We can provide one-to-one advice and grant funding to support affordable access to bikes for young people and schools in many areas of Scotland. 

Bikes for young people

In 2024-25, more than 3,000 bikes were funded for young people who could not otherwise afford to access one. A further 2,341 new and upcycled bikes, including six adaptive bikes for young people with additional needs, were funded and distributed in 2023-24.

Reducing transport poverty across Scotland

Cycling Scotland has funded organisations across 24 local authorities, including Volunteering Hebrides working to alleviate transport poverty in the rural villages surrounding Stornoway and St Paul’s Youth Forum in Glasgow.

Working with partners to distribute bikes

Over 90 organisations, including schools and youth and community groups work with us to distribute bikes and ensure young people continue to benefit.