16 December 2020

Aberdeenshire Council collects coveted Cycling Friendly Employer Award

Aberdeenshire Council has received an award from Cycling Scotland for its commitment to making it easier for people to get on their bikes.

The award recognises organisations including workplaces, schools, community groups and campuses which have contributed to promoting cycling as a healthy and sustainable travel choice.

In order to achieve the Cycling Friendly Award, Aberdeenshire Council has encouraged people to travel by bike by:

• Improving facilities for bicycle users, such as secure cycle parking or changing rooms and showers
• Providing pool bikes and a bicycle mileage allowance for business journeys
• Offering a cycle to work scheme to staff all year round
• Producing cycling maps and active travel information
• Supporting training sessions for people to be more confident cycling
• Promoting Dr Bike maintenance sessions and other cycling events

The award aims to encourage and support organisations across Scotland to take a leading role in ensuring that anyone, anywhere can enjoy the benefits of cycling.

Aberdeenshire Council has guaranteed the Cycling Friendly Employer Award for three buildings – Woodhill House in Aberdeen, Gordon House in Inverurie and Buchan House in Peterhead – and will continue working on improving all their facilities.

Head of Transportation Ewan Wallace said: “On behalf of all those staff who have played such an important role in developing this initiative I would like to thank Cycling Scotland for their recognition of this work.

“We are seeing an ever-increasing interest in cycling as a healthy and sustainable transport option and with that comes demand for facilities and support infrastructure which we are very keen to enhance and develop in the future.”

More information about the Cycling Friendly programme can be found here: https://www.cycling.scot/our-programmes