Hat-trick for RGU as cycling funding bid approved
For the third year running, RGU has secured funding for a Campus Cycling Officer to help boost numbers of two wheeled travellers.
The University will have someone in the post for the next academic year of 2023-2024 which will be funded by Cycling Scotland.
RGU has had two cycling officers in recent years, and they have both proved to be successful with a number of improvements made for cyclists across campus leaving a positive legacy.
They have organised events like bike registration and group bike rides, organised a refurbished bike sale, worked with Aberdeen City Council and regional transport bodies to help improve cycling across the City and provide safe routes to RGU.
The Campus Cycling Officers have also been involved with successfully applying for funding for a number of projects. These include a secure cycling storage cage at the Riverside Building and Grays (although this is to be completed), a bike ramp outside Garthdee House Annexe and a fleet of 20 new bikes for staff or students to hire out from RGU’s BikePad workshop at Woolmanhill. The campus also played host to Dr Bike sessions, Cycling Confidence sessions and Rider Lead training. There are also Bike Libraries at all reception desks for staff and students to borrow essential items such as locks or pumps.
RGU’s new Campus Cycling Officer is expected to be in post towards the end of August.
Kirk Burton, RGU’s Transport and Sustainability Coordinator, said: “We are delighted to be successful in applying for a Campus Cycling Officer for 2023-2024 who can assist RGU’s Transport and Sustainability team in continuing to encourage participation and improve individual skills and confidence across staff and students and facilities on campus.”
Commuting to campus has multiple benefits like being a good way to get active, it is a cheaper mode of transport and it helps play an important part towards achieving net zero.
RGU is looking to increase the numbers of staff and students that adopt cycling as their main way to travel to campus. A cycling strategy is currently being developed to support this as well as long-term decision-making.
