Buchan Residents Urges to "Bike it!"

A specially produced map of Peterhead aims to encourage residents to be more active during their journeys round town.

The Walk it, Bike it, Try It maps, which have been produced by Aberdeenshire Council as part of the Cycle Demonstration Town project, illustrate in time bands of five minutes how quickly residents can travel across Peterhead. 

The maps show the main off-road and shared use cycle routes across the town as well as traffic calmed areas where cyclists can mix more freely with traffic. Information is also provided in the map leaflet, with advice for those new to cycling or thinking about walking to work.

The concept is a novel approach to mapping and aims to show that much of Peterhead can be covered in 15 minutes by bike. The maps include a useful distance scale and identify the main schools, shops and cycle parking facilities in the town.

They will be launched at a special Bike It! event on Saturday, June 16, at the town’s Drummers Corner.

Buchan residents are being asked to donate unused or unwanted bicycles as part of the event which has been developed by Peterhead Projects in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council and aims to support anyone new or interested in cycling. 

Peterhead Projects will be on hand to receive any bikes being donated as part of their wider 2Reuse Scheme, which includes the clean up and maintenance of older bikes which are then made available for resale at affordable prices.

Commenting, Peterhead South & Cruden councillor Stephen Smith said:

“There is a great deal of interest among the public in making use of the town’s cycle tracks.  I know by the number of approaches I’ve received from constituents on the missing link in the cycle path on the Peterhead bypass that the public are keen to make good use of these facilities.

“Peterhead is leading the way in providing facilities for cyclists and I hope that this latest initiative, as well as encouraging local people to ‘Bike It’ will also promote Peterhead as a cycling destination, given our close proximity to the National Cycle Network.”