City yet to offer bicycle repair scheme

Cyclists in Aberdeen are unable to get access to the Scottish Government’s Cycle Repair Scheme.

The £1.5 million scheme, launched this week, is available at 100 shops around the country.

It is aimed primarily at getting neglected bikes – as well as manual wheelchairs – out of garages, sheds and gardens and back on the road, with people encouraged to use two wheels for their everyday journeys.

People are able to get free bicycle repairs worth up to £50 and a total of 30,000 bike repairs or maintenance jobs will be carried out at participating retailers.

However, so far, no one in Aberdeen offers the free service.

City councillor Sandra Macdonald, who is also chairwoman of Nestrans, is a keen cyclist and is making efforts to increase access to the scheme in the north-east.

She said: “There are no retailers currently in the city but this is constantly being reviewed.

“Officers in Nestrans have identified a list of businesses worthy of inclusion across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and have provided this to Cycling UK.”

There are currently only four participating shops in Aberdeenshire – in Mintlaw, Tarland, Alford and Fraserburgh.

Repairs under the £1.5m scheme are available on a first come, first served basis.

“There are no retailers currently in the city”