Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme launched to "keep Scotland pedalling"
Posted on in Cycles News , Political News
Repair Scheme has opened to the public. It is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered through Cycling UK and participating retailers to provide free bike repair and maintenance work up to a value of £50.
This scheme is designed to encourage people to get old bikes out of storage and back onto the roads, as well as keeping well-used bikes pedalling smoothly and safely thanks to the skills and services of bike mechanics right across Scotland. Inclusivity and accessibility are at the heart of the scheme. All cycles are welcome including adult and child bikes, tandems, trikes, handcycles, non-standard and adapted bikes. People who use manual wheelchairs are also eligible to access free repairs.
This is part of the Scottish Government's response to the COVID-19 crisis, which includes the £30 million Spaces for People temporary infrastructure initiative and other behavioural change programmes. The Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme will help maintain the positive increase in the numbers of people we have seen cycling across the country while helping to manage demand on public transport. A total of 30,000 repairs are available across Scotland, providing more people with access to greener and healthier travel options as we continue to move through the Scottish Government Routemap to Recovery. Almost 100 bikes shops - from Shetland to Dumfries - are already signed up to the scheme, with many more expected to join in the coming days.
Primarily, the scheme is aimed at people who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford these repairs. No voucher or registration is required - just contact a local participating bike shop. By doing so, the public will help provide a guaranteed source of income for these shops while at the same time benefitting from free professional repairs. Repairs of up to £50 per person are available on a first come basis until the £1.5 million fund has been exhausted.
Use Cycling UK's map to find your nearest Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme centre. For more information read Cycling UK's detailed FAQs.