Communities across Scotland are celebrating as the Scottish Government and sportscotland announce another 13 projects will receive investment from the £8 million Cycling Facilities Fund.

Projects in seven different local authorities will share £1,143,825 to develop accessible, inclusive and inspiring cycling facilities. Round one saw nine sites receive investment to the tune of £1.5m, which brings the total amount invested to nearly £3m across 22 different projects, with plenty more to come.

The fund has been made possible through a £4million commitment of Capital funding from Scottish Government and £4million of National Lottery funding from sportscotland. This significant investment in infrastructure is being delivered through a partnership between Scottish Cycling and sportscotland to ensure projects can have a lasting impact.  Clubs, education establishments, local authorities or leisure trusts, charitable organisations, community sport hubs and community organisations can all apply to the Cycling Facilities Fund and demand has been high, underlining that there is real demand for community facilities of this kind.

Of the announcement, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, Maree Todd, said:

“I am delighted that more communities across Scotland will benefit through the cycling facilities fund.  We have seen a record increase in the number of people participating in cycling particularly during these very challenging times. It is important we continue to build on the interest in cycling and the positive impact it has on health and wellbeing helping us achieve our vision of an active Scotland where everyone benefits from sport and physical activity for their physical, mental and social health.

“This investment in accessible, inclusive and inspiring cycling facilities will also deliver a legacy from the Cycling World Championships in 2023 for decades.

Scottish Cycling Chief Executive, Nick Rennie, added:

“This is another major milestone for the Cycling Facilities Fund, as round two of investment sees another 13 sites receive financial support, to turn their dreams into a reality.

"As the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships approach, we’re determined to ensure our cycling clubs, and cyclists across Scotland, have safe places to ride their bikes, and these projects do just that.

"As with the first round, I’m delighted to see such a brilliant spread of geographical locations and cycling disciplines, but once again, we still have plenty of funding available to support more great projects in 2022.”

The projects set to benefit from this second round of investment are:

• Transition Extreme New Pump Track, Aberdeen, £50,000
• North Berwick Pump Track, East Lothian, £50,000
• Lochore Meadows Whitewood MTB trails, Fife, £49,466
• Middleden Mountain Bike trails and skills area, Fife, £100,000
• Bellahouston Park Cycle Hub, Glasgow, £100,000
• Cathkin Braes Cycle Hub, Glasgow, £145,800
• Pollok Park Cycle Hub, Glasgow, £100,000
• Lochaber Wheeled Sport New Bike Park, Highland, £290,000
• Abriachan MTB Trails and Pumptrack, Highland, £50,000
• Auchterarder CSR New Pump Track, Perth & Kinross, £50,000
• Getting Better Together Shotts New Pump Track, North Lanarkshire, £50,000 
• St Philips Neighbourhood Safe Cycling Tracks, North Lanarkshire, £50,000
• Cumbernauld Centurions BMX Track, North Lanarkshire, £58,559 

The national Cycling Facilities Fund was established to build on the growing interest in cycling by developing a network of accessible facilities to encourage people of all ages to ride bikes and enjoy the sport of cycling. It will also deliver a tangible benefit as part of the wider policy objectives driving the forthcoming 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, which will take place in Glasgow and Scotland bringing together the 13 existing World Championship cycling disciplines into one event for the very first time.

The world’s best riders will take centre stage at the UCI World Cycling Championships in 2023, but the Championships is more than just an event and will celebrate the unique power of the bike and all it can bring to our everyday lives, whether it’s physical and mental health benefits, easing congestion on the road to help the environment, or simply making it easier for people to get around. Underpinned by four key policy drivers - participation, transport, tourism and economy - the Championships will be a catalyst for behavioural change across Scotland moving forward.