I Bike Communities

Sustrans Scotland

    • Aberdeen City

    Project Aims:

    Increase the number of people choosing walking, cycling and wheeling in the north east

    Walking, cycling and wheeling is safer for all

    Walking, cycling and wheeling is available to all

    Active travel is embedded communities.

    The Sustrans I Bike Communities offer works intensively in Aberdeen City Council with adults in a community setting, often those from under-represented groups or with health issues, with an aim to engage, enable and motivate participants to increase their levels of active travel and physical activity, thereby improving health and wellbeing.    

    Delivery is varied and flexible and ranges from confidence sessions to bike loans, working with a range of participants from families, schools and parents to low-income families and refugees. Activities include bike loans, E-Bike inductions, cycling skills sessions and led rides. Participants engage in the project for different amounts of time.    

    In Aberdeen, the dedicated I Bike Communities officer is currently working with the community to develop active travel routes around the city based on the local knowledge of the participants which will develop into skills and confidence sessions on said routes.   

    The overall aim of I Bike Communities is to engage, enable and motivate participants to increase their levels of active travel and physical activity, thereby improving health and wellbeing.   

    For more information, including how to volunteer to help the project, visit; https://ibike.sustrans.org.uk/welcome/i-bike-communities-aberdeen-city/ 

    Find out more about I Bike in communities across Aberdeen, and the other work from Sustrans across the north east funded by the People & Place project

    Project Updates

    Quarter 4

    During Q3, the Aberdeen Community project officer resigned from Sustrans. Since then, Sustrans have been working to develop a transition plan with both Nestrans and Aberdeen City Council to ensure the Aberdeen community is continuously supported through its walking, wheeling, and cycling journey.

    Quarter 3

    Quarter 3 has brought significant developments for the Aberdeen community project. The partnership celebrated the grand opening of the Aberdeen Cycle Hub, a space designed for both Sustrans and Sport Aberdeen to support the local community in enjoying walking, wheeling, and cycling with the necessary resources.

    The opening, which took place on November 2nd, attracted several families who participated in various cycling activities. Many young people either learned to ride bikes or gained confidence through our obstacle course, while adults rediscovered their enthusiasm for cycli ng. One mother remarked, “I better get a bike now. My son is off on his bike,” and another shared her joy at riding again after “at least 20 years since I have gone this fast.”

    The day was deemed a success, fostering strong partnerships between Sustrans, Sport Aberdeen, Love to Ride, and Nestrans.

    Quarter 3 has seen great developments for the Aberdeen community project. The partnership came together in the grand opening of the Aberdeen Cycle Hub. This is a space for both Sustrans and Sport Aberdeen to support the local community in enjoying walking, wheeling, and cycling with the appropriate support. The opening took place on the 2nd of November and saw several families enjoy cycle activities. Many young people learnt to ride bikes or build their confidence through our obstacle course. While adults were finding the enthusiasm to ride once again. One mum said, “I better get a bike now. My son is off on his bike”, with another expressing her joy of being back on a bike after “at least 20 years since I have gone this fast”. Many saw the day's success, which allowed for great partnerships with Sustrans, Sport Aberdeen, Love to Ride, and Nestrans.

    During Q3, the Aberdeen Community project officer resigned from Sustrans. Since then, we have been working to develop a transition plan with both Nestrans and Aberdeen City Council to ensure the community of Aberdeen is continuously supported through its walking, wheeling, and cycling journey.

    Quarter 2

    In quarter 2, we observed strong family support during the school holidays. Our Communities Officer and School Officers collaborated to organise a family fun day, allowing families to enjoy cycling together. The event included learn-to-ride sessions and confidence-building sessions for all family members. The goal was to encourage more families to engage in active travel and combine our efforts to have a greater impact. Our Communities Officer aimed to engage with the parents to build their confidence and skills so that the whole family could cycle. The impact could have been greater if the weather had been more favourable during the sessions. However, our Officers have learned from this and have developed a wet weather plan to ensure better preparedness in the future.

    Our Officer has been working closely with Sport Aberdeen to establish a cycling hub for the Aberdeen community. In the second quarter, the old football changing rooms were transformed into bike storage, and the car park was turned into a safe space for people to learn how to ride. Our Office r has been using this space to provide cycling training and learn-to-ride sessions, as well as a starting point for many of the partnership-led rides. The facilities are conveniently located near Aberdeen Beach, allowing various rides tailored to different skill levels and the opportunity to develop on and off-road cycling skills.

    Activities continued to focus on reducing barriers to active travel. A total of 27 activities have been carried out, with the focus being on cycle training. These sessions allow people to improve their biking skills and build confidence. Many participants have not ridden a bike in several years. Our Community Officer has provided them with the time and support needed to learn and enhance their skills for everyday use.

    Quarter 1

    Our I Bike Communities officer has been actively engaging adults/families in activities to gain their confidence, skills and knowledge to enable them to actively travel around Aberdeen. At least 48 adults have attended learn to ride sessions and at least 5 adults have learnt about bike maintenance this quarter with one bike maintenance and one Dr Bike session held. It has been great to see these individuals develop with the help and support of the I Bike communities ‘officer.

    Statistics cover April and May only; June figures are to be confirmed once all data is collated).

    During Q1 of 2024/25, I Bike communities held over 30 activities and reached over 88 adult participants. Of the 88 participants, 60 were new to I Bike Communities. The following activities have taken place:

    • 13 Cycle Training sessions reaching 48 participants
    • 4 initial meetings with 6 new participants
    • 1 maintenance session with 3 participants, and one Dr Bike session with 2 participants
    • 10 Led Rides with 29 participants