Wheels in motion for creation of new cycling group in north-east

A new group which will represent cycling interests in the Mearns has been forged.

A Cycling in the North East – Moving Forward Together meeting brought together the Aberdeenshire cycling community and featured presentations from organisations including national cycling charities Sustrans Scotland and Cycling UK, and Police Scotland.

It concluded with the creation of the new Grampian Cycle Partnership which, for the first time, forms a single umbrella group to represent all cyclists across the northeast. It will work pro-actively and in partnership with the local authorities and national organisations to improve facilities and infrastructure for cycling in the area.

Jon Barron, cycling development officer at Nestrans, said: “The attendance was testament to the level of interest and enthusiasm from our local cyclists. There are a lot of passionate and committed riders who want to work to see improvements for cycling, whether for commuting, sport, leisure or tourism. There is a great deal of good work being carried out by some of the existing groups, but this could be further strengthened by pooling that knowledge, skill and experience together more effectively. It also gives a comprehensive source of reference and consultees for the local authorities in relation to cycling projects.”

The first full meeting is planned within the next month at which it is hoped to form a committee. Email info@ grampiancyclepartnership.org, follow @Gcp_justgoride on Twitter or visit the Grampian Cycle Partnership Facebook page for more information.