Urgent Call For Bike Donations For Glasgow Kids

Organisers of a scheme to help every 4 year old in Glasgow learn how to cycle are seeking donations of small children’s bikes as part of a city wide Bike Amnesty. Every bike donated to Play On Pedals will be fixed up by Glasgow Bike Station and trainee mechanics at Barlinnie Prison.

For the last two years, Glasgow Bike Station has worked with the Scottish Prison Service to setup a fully operational bike workshop at the prison which offers inmates important skills to aid their employability on release. The refurbished bikes will then be added to a fleet of balance and pedal bikes which rotates around Glasgow’s nurseries and community groups, ensuring every 4 year old has access to a bike as part of their training. From Cloan Nursery in Drumchapel, to London Road Nursery in the east end, preschoolers are learning the skills to get pedaling all for free thanks to funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery’s Dream Fund.

The fund is entirely generated by players of the charity lottery. So far 650 4-year olds and 125 instructors have taken part in cycling training events at 91 nurseries across the Glasgow area. However even more children could benefit if the project has access to more bikes. So dig through your sheds, rummage in your garages and donate any unused and unwanted children’s bikes. Drop off points have been arranged around the city at Glasgow Life leisure facilitates. For a full list of where and when bikes can be dropped, please see:

Alternatively, take your bike to Glasgow Bike Station, 65 Haugh Road, G3 8TX. Play on Pedals Development Officer Polly Jarman said: “So that we can ensure kids from all across the city have access to bikes, we need to increase our fleet and are in need of donations. By donating small balance and pedal bikes that your kids have out-grown, you can make a huge difference - every bike will be fixed up and delivered to nurseries, particularly in areas where bike ownership is low.”