Cycle project comes to a halt
THE EDINBURGH All-Ability Bike Centre (ABC) at Saughton Park has closed due to a lack of sustainable funding.
The Centre has offered the freedom and enjoyment of cycling to anyone with disabilities which might have otherwise prevented them even getting on a bike. With side-by-side tandems and trikes the organisation was able to give anyone the chance to try cycling in the fresh air.
Claire Edwards, mum of Joe who used the service, said: “ABC provided a safe and fun environment for my son to learn how to ride a bike. It was great for his physical and mental well-being. Without supported activities such as those offered by ABC, young disabled people are excluded from opportunities that help them learn and develop.
“Disabled young people have been severely impacted by the pandemic closures, and the loss of ABC is a real kick in the teeth as things open up for everyone else.”
Just before going to press
The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to Suzanne Forup from Cycling UK who set up ABC in 2015. Suzanne explained that the funding has run out, and she could not say exactly what would happen, but she was speaking to other organisations.
She said: “There has been lots of upset and tears as we have run this project for a long time now. It is much needed, but is a sizeable project employing three part-time members of staff. We have had lots of offers but it must be a sustainable model. Part of the trouble is that as a little part of Cycling UK - which has a healthy balance sheet - the project does not qualify for some funding. Some of the trusts we have applied to have an
income cap so we just don’t qualify. Someone else might be able to run it and tap into different sources of income.”