A Lochaber charity is going green by encouraging vehicle users to stop making short trips and switch to using a bike – that they’ll give you for free.
Lochaber Environmental Group wants to get people out of cars, and off the main roads and are appealing for people to “adopt” a bike for free.
Kate Willis, a development worker with the charity, said: “The busy A82, that runs through the town of Fort William to the north, was named as one of the busiest roads in Scotland last year, with many of the vehicles on the road making short trips of less than 15 minutes.
“We think that by encouraging people to adopt a bike for free from us – and use the National Cycle Route to get to work in town then we can all stop wasting so much time in our cars for the thousands of short trips we make in cars.”
The Adopt a Bike scheme takes donations of bikes from members of the public.
Ms Willis continued: “All our bikes are in used condition, our community bike interns and volunteers have been trained to repair bikes so that they are in good running condition and safe to use.
“But please bear in mind that the bikes are not in new condition and have visible or hidden wear.
“Our bikes have been donated by local people who no longer have a use for them, so we are looking for new homes and owners that will take the bikes back out on the road!
“This year we will be offering up to 60 bikes, our bikes are only available on application.
“We want everyone to be able to afford a bike so if you are successfully matched with a bike you can donate what you feel.
>> Download Adopt A Bike application form <<
“Any donations are used to buy more materials to repair more bikes and train our volunteers.”
To help people look after newly adopted bikes, the Fort William Bike Kitchen will teach bike repair skills at the Fort William Conscious Living Fair on May 11 and the Lochaber Vegan Fair on June 8.
