A project to promote sustainable transport, active travel, and practical skills development to young people and families through GBT Bike School in North Lanarkshire was today visited by Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop .
GBT Bike School, delivered by Getting Better Together, is a community organisation based in North Lanarkshire, funded through SPT’s People and Place Programme Community Fund. It runs a range of initiatives, including Dr Bike sessions, Bike Bus, E-Bike loans, Bike Skills Development, and Youth Repair and Refurbishment Training. These programmes aim to increase access to cycling skills while improving the health and wellbeing of local communities.
Visiting Dykehead Primary School, Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop attended a Dr Bike session, observing firsthand how the programme engages young people in bike safety and encourages active travel. Pupils bring bikes from home to receive a safety check and have maintenance or repairs completed by Getting Better Together for free. The sessions also teach children the importance of keeping bikes safe and operational, while building confidence and independence in caring for their own bikes.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:
“It was great to visit Dykehead Primary and see the Dr Bike session at work. Funded by the Scottish Government and delivered through the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport People and Place Programme, it’s providing not just repairs – but lifelong skills and knowledge – to make cycling an easier choice for more people.
“Safe infrastructure for active travel is vital, but it’s equally important that we have these kinds of high‑impact programmes which embed knowledge at a young age and help to create habits and practice that carry right through to adulthood.
“To help Local Authorities, third sector delivery partners and Regional Transport Partnerships across the country deliver on their similar ambitions, the Scottish Government is investing over £188 million in active and sustainable transport in 2025–26. In doing so, we’re helping more people to save money, improve health and reduce emissions.”
William Elder, Strategic Lead at Getting Better Together said:
“It was a busy and positive day for everyone involved, starting with our Bike Bus in the morning. Despite the wet weather, young people still turned out in great numbers, which clearly shows the growing shift in behaviours towards active travel within our communities. We’re absolutely delighted to receive this recognition for the GBT Bike School project and to showcase the impact it’s having locally. Most importantly, it was fantastic to see so many children having fun, building confidence, and genuinely enjoying being active on their bikes and scooters. That enjoyment is what helps make active travel a habit rather than a one-off activity.”
So far this year, the project has reached 705 participants in Q2 alone, with numbers expected to grow as it moves into the final quarter, reflecting its strong impact on the community.