The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Cycling officer puts wheels in motion for active travel to work
Post at Perth College will encourage staff and students to take up physical exercise
Perth College has appointed its first campus cycling officer to encourage more staff and students to take up cycling.
Lewis Melloy from Perth has secured a full-time placement at Perth College UHI until April 2020 – thanks to funding from Transport Scotland supported by Cycling Scotland.
The former Perth College UHI sports student, who graduated with a BSc (Hons) Sport and Fitness, has a remit to look at how to improve and enhance the college’s cycle provision and encourage more members of staff and students to pedal to their place of work and study.
The 22-year-old said: “This is an exciting new role at Perth College UHI and I’m particularly looking forward to providing staff and students with as many possibilities to get healthier by cycling to and from campus if they can. I will be evaluating current barriers and can’t wait to take forward ideas that will make a difference.”
Lewis will be organising a number of events over the next few months including free Dr Bike sessions and cycle-led rides.
He is also looking to update and improve the cycling facilities on campus, arrange a bike lock swap, bring a fleet of bikes on campus and work closely with Local Active Travel Hubs and bike shops to encourage more people to cycle to and from the campus.
Sharon McGuire, sector manager sport and fitness, said: “This is a great initiative funded by Transport Scotland and supported by Cycling Scotland.
“Active transport (including walking and cycling) by staff and students won’t just help our physical activity levels, it will help staff and students explore the city of Perth.
“There are some great cycle paths around the city and Lewis’s work contributes to the wider Perth and Kinross Active Travel Strategy.”
The Cycling Scotland initiative has seen cycling officers employed at educational institutions across Scotland, including the universities of Strathclyde, St Andrews and Aberdeen, Glasgow School of Art and Fife College.