A NEW website has been launched to build on the growth of cycling and encourage even more people to take up the activity.

The Lochgelly and Benarty areas are fast becoming cycling centres with the special track at Lochore Meadows Country Park and the proposed new facility soon to be built near Lochgelly High school.

Whether checking for cycle routes in your area, using the new Journey Planner, learning about cycle training for your child at school or figuring out your daily commute by bike, cyclefife.com is there to help. The CycleFife website is only one aspect of a range of measures which are being promoted as part of the two year CycleFife project. As well as improving existing cycling routes in the towns, Fife Council is working with local schools to implement Bikeability training.

By providing bikes for the participating schools they have helped to integrate cycling into the PE curriculum – so far over 100 new bikes have been provided.

Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman, from Lochgelly, has been visiting kids benefitting from the project and said, “I’m delighted to see young people learning skills which will keep them healthy throughout life. Fife has a long standing track record of encouraging cycling and delivering the infrastructure to make it easier for people to cycle. Fife has over 350 miles of designated cycleways, many low speed 20mph zones, high quality mountain bike routes and core paths.

“However, there’s always room for improvement and there’s lots still to be done to make the Government’s vision of 10% of all trips in Scotland to be by bike by 2020. Establishing cycling as a regular activity for children is a great way to turn it into a habit which they can continue into adulthood. At the moment we have around 5% of children cycling to school and we are very committed to increasing that number.” The benefits of cycling are well documented; it can improve your health and fitness, save money and help the environment. The CycleFife website is intended to harness and focus the enthusiasm for cycling in Fife as the council calls on people to get involved in events and opportunities to boost cycling in their town.

Provost Leishman added, “I hope families take advantage of this new website to find some new routes in their area and enjoy a day out in our lovely countryside. It’s the perfect time to get on your bike!”