This report summarises progress on the Aberdeen City I Bike Schools project for Nestrans for 2024-25. This report
covers Q4, the period from January to March 2025

In Aberdeen
In Aberdeen City, Sustrans’ dedicated Officer has been working closely with Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs) from three primary schools to enhance their initiatives.

Together, they have been delivering engaging assemblies and training the JRSOs on how to safely conduct playground scooter sessions. One school is embarking on an exciting journey to develop its active travel plan, which is now a key requirement set by the local authority. Additionally, they are launching a thoughtful campaign to encourage parents to consider alternatives to driving during drop-off and pick-up times.

Sustrans are thrilled with the successful continuation of their programs this quarter:

• 15 pupils learned to ride bikes.
• 108 bikes were loaned to enable participation.
• 31 instances of support from volunteers
• 841 pupils attended our sessions.

Sustrans are investing in a range of resources to support schools in these efforts. Among their initiatives, they are excited to introduce two child-friendly “scooter pods” for Aberdeen schools, providing a fun and secure way for students to store their scooters.

Sustrans’ Officer is also diligently collaborating with local council contacts to expand scooter parking options at schools. Additionally, she has made significant progress in securing five frog bikes for two schools, ensuring that students have easy access to bicycles for their activities. Sustrans are truly optimistic about these developments in promoting safe and active travel within the local community.

In Aberdeenshire
This report summarises progress on the Aberdeenshire I Bike project for Nestrans for 2024-25. This report covers Q4, the period from January to March 2025.
Despite the numerous challenges posed by harsh winter weather, which significantly impacts rural schools, I Bike Aberdeenshire has successfully executed a diverse range of sessions tailored to promote active travel among students. These initiatives include interactive scooter skills workshops and engaging assemblies that emphasize the crucial importance of visibility when commuting to school during the darker, winter months.

In addition to these efforts, our dedicated officer has taken proactive steps to engage the remaining cluster schools that were initially slow to participate in the project. As a result of these targeted outreach activities, all eight schools in the cluster are now actively taking part in the initiative, fostering a community-wide commitment to safe and sustainable travel practices.

• 1,755 pupil attendees engaged this quarter.
• 178 scooters loaned to allow activities to be inclusive.
• 119 staff attendees to support the sessions.
• 62 parents supported our delivery.

Currently, our team is actively hosting sessions and is in the process of acquiring a variety of high-quality equipment designed to motivate schools to embrace active travel related activities. Recently, we invested in 20 safety helmets for schools across Aberdeenshire, which will facilitate increased student participation in bike skill sessions and guided rides in the weeks ahead.

Moreover, our pedal cinema program has undergone an exciting revamp and is currently touring schools throughout Aberdeenshire. This innovative and entertaining setup provides children with the opportunity to power the cinema by bike. It captivates children’s interest in cycling and provides a unique platform for our officer to engage young audiences in meaningful conversations about the benefits of active journeys to school. By combining fun with education, we aim to inspire a new generation of cyclists who prioritize health, safety, and environmental responsibility.

In Aberdeen

Quarter 3 proved to be a dynamic and productive period, despite limited delivery activities in October due to the school holiday s. This interval afforded an opportunity to assist the Aberdeen Community Officer in the planning and execution of the grand opening of the Aberdeen cycle hub.

Through this collaboration, numerous schoolchildren were able to learn to ride, while their parents engaged in cycling activities, fostering a sense of community and enjoyment.

In November, our school officer was pleased to establish a partnership with Grampian Inclusive Cycle Bothies (Project 14a herein), enhancing the inclusivity of our sessions. This collaboration enabled an individual in P7 to learn to ride a hand cycle for the first time, who expressed exhilaration by stating, "I am free." As a result of this initiative, the pupil successfully progressed their skills to Bikeability under the guidance of our School Officer.

While adverse Scottish weather conditions led to the cancellation of several sessions, and snow and ice hindered outdoor activities, our Officer effectively utilized their extensive skill set to reschedule sessions and implement a wet weather plan, thereby ensuring the continuity of our programs.

In Aberdeenshire
I Bike in Aberdeenshire has experienced a significant increase in participation from all seven new schools within the current cluster, with the delivery of programs already well underway. Working with such rural clusters has enabled our I Bike Officer to grow and adapt their delivery methods effectively. Scooter skills have proven to be particularly successful among schools and pupils as a means of active travel. Scooters are not only easier for students to transport but also simpler for teachers to store within the school premises, facilitating inclusive sessions for all students. This quarter 135 attendees have engaged in scooter sessions delivered by the I Bike Officer. Our aim for Q4 is to encourage the teaching staff to take the lead on these activities to give them the confidence to deliver without the I Bike Officer present.

Despite less than favourable weather conditions, our I Bike Officer has successfully organised indoor sessions aimed at promoting safety awareness among young people through our "Be Bright, Be Seen" assemblies. To date, five out of the seven school clusters have received this vital information and have been provided with reflective gifts and lights to enhance safety during nighttime travel.

Numerous schools have participated in our "Leg it to Lapland" competition to encourage active travel during the colder and darker months. This initiative involves schools monitoring the number of miles travelled through active transportation to reach Lapland in time for Christmas. The distance figures are calculated based on the proportion of pupils at each institution to ensure that the results are fair and inclusive for all participating schools across the country. This method has enabled rural schools in Aberdeenshire to engage with and enjoy this challenge in an equitable manner. They successfully completed the required distance, and we can provide photographs of Santa and his elf delivering presents to the schools sustainably!

Throughout quarter 3, we have had:

• 1,531 pupil attendees
• 38 activities
• 102 engaged staff members
• 3 parent engagement
• 2 volunteer engagement

In Aberdeen

In quarter 2, we observed strong family support during the school holidays. Our I Bike Officer and Community Officer 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. Our school Officer focused on encouraging the children to cycle, while our Community Officer focused on encouraging the parents to change their behaviour and develop their confidence. The goal was to encourage more families to engage in active travel and combine our efforts to have a greater impact. 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 School Officer reconnects with the students as the school term begins by organising engaging and fun focus sessions. These sessions have been well-received, and the smoothie bike has become a student favourite. Not only does it promote active travel, but our Officers also use it to encourage the students to eat healthily and fuel themselves well for their active travel journeys.

During Q2, 464 attendees participated in I Bike activities. These have included:

• Led rides and walks – 138 pupil attendees.
• Interest and Enthusiasm – 247 pupil attendees.
• Planning meetings – 2 staff members.

These activities have been supported by 9 regular volunteers, 9 parents and 24 staff members.

The enthusiasm from Term 1 will help us maintain momentum in Term 2. Usually, there is a slight drop in engagement at this time of year because schools have just resumed and are still planning for the year ahead. However, our Officer has been able to hit the ground running, having stayed in the same cluster to ensure the legacy of I Bike is embedded.

In Aberdeenshire

Q2 in the I Bike programme has been predominantly focused on planning and consolidation due to a large proportion of the quarter being taken up with the school summer holiday period. In this time, the I Bike Schools Officer has ensured that all fleet equipment is serviced, maintained, and ready to use for the following school year.

In addition, the officer has reviewed all risk assessments, plans and attended training over the summer to provide fresh ideas and inspiration for the next quarter of delivery.

With the schools returning after the summer holidays, our Officer has met with all 6 rural schools within the Old Meldrum cluster and has developed a plan for the year ahead. Although this has taken slightly longer than anticipated, 47 pupils engaged in sessions since the schools returned. These have included:

• Led rides – 24 pupil attendees
• Dr Bikes – 21 pupil attendees
• Skill development – 2 pupil attendees

Two staff members have engaged to make this happen. Our Officer has been working hard with our Volunteer Coordinator to develop new interest and enthusiasm to encourage more people in the area to volunteer and assist with school sessions. There have been positive discussions with parent helpers and good responses from community Facebook pages.

To continue I Bike's support and legacy, our Officer has been able to purchase resources for the larger supported primary schools within the Meldrum Cluster. This has included a Silent Disco kit to enable classes to enjoy walking around their local community in a new way. These kits are always popular with pupils and Staff. The Microphone allows the staff to communicate with the class directly into the pupils' ears via the headset and cutting the music or audiobook. By our Officer providing this training and the resources it allows for school to continue to travel actively as our officer move to support other schools/clusters.