Pupils at several schools in Aberdeen have today (June 16) taken part in a national campaign to promote cycle safety.
The Give Everyone Cycle Space campaign, funded by Transport Scotland and run by Cycling Scotland, asks motorists to pay attention and give a wide berth to those on bikes while overtaking.
Drivers are asked to give special attention to children and young people – and give at least the same amount of space they would when passing a car.
The initiative is supported by a programme of school-based activities across 14 local authorities, including Aberdeen City Council. It is also being held as part of the Bike Week.
It includes “led” rides from primary to secondary schools and route planning workshops to encourage more children and young people to cycle to school and other destinations. Youngsters from Airyhall, Hazlehead, Kingsford and Fernilea primaries took part in the campaign today, along with pupils from Hazlehead Academy.
Cycling Scotland Chief Executive Keith Irving said: “Cycling is becoming an everyday activity for people in many places across Scotland, but one of the key barriers to more people cycling is concern about traffic and road behaviour.
“Cycling Scotland’s Give Everyone Cycle Space campaign reminds people to drive and overtake safely around people riding bikes, especially children.
“Together with infrastructure, promotion and Bikeability Scotland training, this campaign will help Scotland make progress towards the vision of 10% of journeys by bike by 2020.
“Locally, we are working with councils and schools to deliver led rides and route planning to enable young people to plan their cycle journeys to school and elsewhere, especially as they make more independent journeys from Primary Five onwards.”
Aberdeen City Council’s cycling champion, Councillor Ross Grant, said: “This is a great initiative that we hope will make motorists think a little bit more about cyclists and young people on the roads.
“Aberdeen City Council is committed to promoting cycling and developing safe and efficient infrastructure. Cycling is becoming increasingly popular in the city, so anything that we can be done to improve safety is to be welcomed.”
To find out more about how much space you should give when passing someone on a bike, visit http://www.cyclingscotland.org/our-projects/give-everyone-cycle-space