Scottish Catholic Observer

Bishopbriggs recently became the first town in Scotland to have all its primary schools make the grade for Cycling Scotland’s Friendly Award, an achievement that, in no small part, is thanks to the foresight of a local Catholic headteacher.

Only two years ago Michael McLaughlin’s St Matthew’s Primary School was the first to receive the award, an achievement that inspired other schools in Bishopbriggs.

Made the grade

A couple of years on, and thanks to the support of East Dunbartonshire’s Cycle Co-operative, each of the town’s seven primary schools has made the grade, and more than doubled the number of children cycling to primary schools in the area.

To celebrate the achievement, 16-year-old Christopher Eastwood—who has recently performed with The Clan, a bike-stunt show—soared over Mr McLaughlin on his bike while the headteacher sat at his desk.

Mgr Hugh Bradley, parish priest at St Matthew’s Church, Bishopbriggs, was impressed with the youngsters’ skill and enthusiasm and pleased his parish ‘has been very supportive of this health and environmental initiative over the past two years’.

“Latterly we have opened the doors of the church hall to provide an indoor area for them to practise their passion for BMX,” he said. “Little did we expect that it could lead to such a degree of skill and the opportunity for one of the young men to ride at the highest level with The Clan, which is the United Kingdom’s most extreme cycle stunt team.”

Mark Kiehlmann, founder of East Dunbartonshire’s Cycle Co-op, spoke of the partnership between his organisation and the council and their support for headteachers, staff, parents and school pupils.

“East Dunbartonshire’s Cycle Co-operative is a community based, not for profit, social enterprise that promotes cycling in the area,” he said.

“It has a range of programmes. There are nursery, primary and secondary projects with events every month to keep the interest growing in the community.”

Status

Cycling Scotland chief executive, Ian Aitken, congratulated Bishopbriggs on becoming the first town in Scotland to achieve the Cycle Friendly status.

“It’s fantastic that every child in Bishopbriggs now has the right facilities, infrastructure and training available at school to make cycling an easy and practical choice,” he said.

To launch UK Bike Week in  Bishopbriggs, there will be the annual Cycle Festival on Sunday June 19, which will feature The Clan, as well as series of races for children of all ages.

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