Wheels have been put in motion over the recent Easter Holidays to encourage even more staff members and students to get on their bikes to travel to Forth Valley College.
During the Easter holidays a bike maintenance stand and hut has been installed at the rear of the Falkirk Campus situated in front of the outside Construction Department build space within the east block car park – the first installation on the new Forth Valley green link.
Also at the Stirling Campus a bike maintenance stand has been installed beside the bike racks and at Alloa campus a portable bike stand and tool kit is now available – all of these have been funded by the Cycle Friendly Campus Development Fund and is to help cyclists to fix their bikes and get them back on the road. The Falkirk Bike Hut has also been designed to be easily moved to the new campus when completed.
Four new eBikes - electric battery assisted bikes which will do up to 80% of the work when pedalling making hills a lot easier – are now available for staff who want to try out cycling before committing to buying their own bike. These can be used for lunch time rides or to hire for up to three months for commuting to and from work. If anyone is interested they should get in touch with Pauline Donaldson Pauline.donaldson@forthvalley.ac.uk for further information. These bikes were funded by a £5,500 grant from the Energy Saving Trust eBike Grant Scheme.
These exciting new developments were advanced by Jodie Hutton (23) from Alva who has just completed her six month full-time placement post - thanks to funding support from Cycling Scotland and Bright Green Business at FVC.
She had 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 college. Jodie had recently graduated with a Masters degree in Sports Management from the University of Stirling, having previously completed a Hons Degree in Sports Science and is now taking up a role with the Falkirk Active Travel Hub as an Active Travel Officer.
Jodie, said: “Working at Forth Valley College over the past six months has been a great experience and the Estates team have been fantastic, providing me with all the support I have needed to bring my ideas to life. Seeing the bike hut and maintenance stands installed along with our new eBikes has really been the icing on the cake to a fantastic time at FVC.”
Pauline Donaldson, FVC’s Soft Services and Sustainability Coordinator, said: “Jodie joined the Estates Team in October 2018 as the Campus Cycling Officer, through the Cycling Scotland Internship Programme and has been a valuable addition to the team. She has helped to improve the facilities and services we are able to deliver - which included organising regular led cycle rides, bike lock swap and the first Active and Sustainable Travel Event, which took place in January.
“To highlight the positive work that has taken place, we have now submitted an application for the Stirling Campus to achieve Cycle Friendly Campus. Feedback has been very positive and it is something that we should have confirmed this week. It’s been great to have Jodie with us for the last six months and wish her well in joining the Falkirk Active Travel Hub in her role as Active Travel Officer.”
