Cycle repair scheme rolls out in Kintyre
Up to £50 to help repair or service bikes and wheelchairs
Two Kintyre bike projects are among 300 from across the country taking part in the Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme, which offers £50 towards the repair or service of a bike, non-standard cycle or manual wheelchair, writes Hannah O’Hanlon.
Kintyre Recycling Bike Project and Keeping It Local CIC are taking part in the scheme, which runs until the end of May and is aimed at people who would otherwise struggle to pay to have their bike serviced or repaired.
The goal is to get bikes out of sheds and garages across the country and back in use, with 30,000 people set to benefit from the scheme which is funded by Transport Scotland and administered by Cycling UK.
Jason McCallum from Keeping It Local CIC said: ‘We are proud to be a part of the Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme. Uptake around our locality has been fantastic and an overwhelming success.
‘We have enjoyed being able to provide a valuable service currently to locals but hopefully to visitors also. Don’t forget, we also sell a variety of essential items for your bicycles to keep you safe on the roads.’
Kintyre Recycling Bike Project has repaired more than 30 bikes since it started up in October last year and has sold 12 reused bikes.
The intention is to grow the project and provide more community cycling opportunities in Kintyre.
James McNairn, Kintyre Recycling Bike Project co-ordinator, said: ‘We are delighted to be providing bike repairs and second hand bikes to people in Campbeltown as part of the Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme and to encourage more people to take up cycling in our beautiful surroundings which can really help with mental health issues.’
Shona Morris, Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme programme manager at Cycling UK, said: ‘It’s fantastic to see so many bike shops and community organisations getting involved in this scheme.
‘The Covid-19 crisis has hit many people hard, so we know it can be difficult to pay for essential bike repairs right now. We’d encourage those people to dig their bike out of the shed or garage, get it fixed up and get riding again.’
Get in touch with the team at Keeping It Local, 15 to 17 Main Street, Campbeltown, via Facebook at www.facebook. com/keepingitlocal.campbeltown or by telephoning 07939 149706. The Kintyre Recycling Bike Project team can be contacted via emailing krbikeproject@gmail.com, via Facebook at www.facebook. com/krbikeproject/ or by telephoning 07557 344515.