A new Cycling Officer is hoping to help Forth Valley College freewheel towards national Cycling Friendly Campus awards.
Dylan Rendall (21) from Dunfermline has secured a part-time placement post until mid-June 2018, with 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.
Dylan – who recently graduated from the Scottish Rural University College with a Honours Degree in Sustainable Environment Management – only started in August, but is already impressed with what is in place.
He said:
“I have been impressed with what Pauline Donaldson and the Estates Team have already done in relation to cycling at the college, especially at the Stirling Campus – where the Next Bike scheme is in place. There is great potential here to do more because of their efforts.
“My role is to promote cycling and help to break down the barriers preventing staff and students as well from cycling to the college. I have just graduated in Sustainable Environmental Management so have an environmental background, but as an avid cyclist I am also keen to promote the health benefits of cycling, as well as improving cycling facilities on campus. I will be involved in the Freshers Fairs and will then be organising events for staff and students which I hope to see you at. For those who already cycle - I am here to potentially help your commute, so feel free to get in touch and suggest anything that I can do to help you.”
Dylan will be organising a few events over the next few months, including promoting the bike storage facilities and working with FVC’s Leisure Facilities Coordinator Waimun Lee to help encourage more people to cycle to the campuses.
He went on:
“There are already a few good initiatives to encourage cycling among staff, like the ‘Cycle to Work Scheme’, where an interest free loan can help employees purchase a bike and equipment.
“Overall there are 60 cycle lockers and the Stirling and Falkirk ones are almost full, but I will be looking to find out whether they are all being used by active cyclists and ask those who are not to turn them over to others who want to commit to cycling to College. I would like to encourage more people in Alloa to take up their allocation. All this will allow us to apply to the Cycling Scotland ‘Cycle Friendly Campus Awards’.
“I am really enjoying myself here at Forth Valley College and in the time I am here, I hope to build on the good work that has already been done in relation to cycling across the campuses.”
Pauline Donaldson, FVC’s Facilities Management Coordinator, said:
“We are delighted to have Dylan on board to take forward our cycle plan for Forth Valley College. He has fitted in really well and in the short time he has been here has already made a lot of progress. “