AYRSHIRE cycling charity, On Yer Bike, held the first of their monthly meetings last Wednesday night at their Centre in the Dirrans in Kilwinning to discuss taking cycling in Ayrshire to the next level.

The large gathering of people from all over Ayrshire was a healthy and diverse mix from a broad cross-section of the communities, with representatives from, among others, education, the Health Board, North Ayrshire Council, addiction services, cycle clubs, Sustrans, churches, residents, politicians and the local gentry.

Also in attendance were members of Project Kilbirnie and the Dalry Community Hub, who, along with On Yer Bike and North Ayrshire Council, are partnering to drive the Plug The Gap initiative to create a safe cycle path linking Eglinton and Muirshiel Parks and into Dalry, Kilbirnie and Beith.

With chairman, Bruce Collier, who is former depute chief executive of South Ayrshire Council, stepping to the side to concentrate on other aspects of the Charity, it was a great chance for everyone to meet new chairman, Rick Standley, who chaired the meeting.

Some of the topics covered were core funding, human resource, volunteering, planning and working closely with other groups and organisations in the area to integrate ideas and plans to really impact the whole community.

Rick said: “This charity does not belong to us, we are merely the custodians for the time being. It belongs to the people. We are not wishing to build a kingdom but a community. It is a community project FOR the community and we hope it will be owned BY the community. There are very exciting times ahead with the creation of the cycle path to the Garnock Valley.This is the first phase of the vision to see all the parks and beauty spots of Ayrshire linked by a safe corridor for cyclists and walkers.”

Former MSP for South Ayrshire, Chic Brodie, who is championing cycling in Ayrshire and is promoting Ayrshire as the cycling capital of Scotland, due to the fact we have the Ayrshire Alps in South Ayrshire and the cycling Meccas of Arran and Millport, added,: “With the news this morning that cycling might have an impact on reducing cancer and heart problems, it underlines the importance of the On Yer Bike initiatives at the meeting which I attended on Wednesday evening in Kilwinning. The linking up of cycling facilities and routes across the parks in Ayrshire has to be supported as part of programmes in the NHS and also by the tourism and sporting elements of the Ayrshire Growth Deal.”

Councillor Ronnie McNicol from Saltcoats added: “It’s about time our children and the elderly had a safe route to walk and cycle from their homes to our beauty spots to enjoy this beautiful part of the world we call Ayrshire. We have some of the best scenery in the world on our doorstep and yet it is underused due to the lack of safe walkways and cycle paths to link them all together. You only have to see the banners in all our schools telling us how dangerous it is for kids when people park their cars in front of playgrounds, while dropping and picking up their kids. If they could feel safe to cycle or walk to school then this would go a long way towards fixing the problem.”

Norrie Smith of Prestwick South Community Council said: “The benefits of cycling are clinically proven. Combine healthy eating and education and you have an incredible weapon in Scotland’s fight to reduce cancers, heart disease and many other illnesses that affect us all.

“Team On Yer Bike are not only promoting this lifestyle but are offering solutions to create intelligent, safe, healthy and sustainable environments for this to take place. Amazing work! “

Rick continued: “We are colour blind- we have no political, cultural, religious or social affiliation. We are simply a group of ordinary people, willing to work with any and all like-minded people, who simply want what’s best for our communities. Our high streets are dying, there are empty shops everywhere. Town centre businesses are struggling to stay afloat, but we believe one way we can entice people back into our town centres is to create an environment where people can come in at their leisure through sustainable transport links, create nice meeting places, get people talking again and spending time again in our centres and not rushing in and out or simply driving past because there is nowhere to park. This would not only create an environment which local people could enjoy, but would create an environment where we could attract tourism not only from the UK but from further afield.”

“National cycle charity, Sustrans, have given £40,000 to North Ayrshire Council to create a feasibility study to find a route for the Kilwinning-Beith cycle path and have promised to put up half of the total cost to construct it. We need to raise the other £1.4 million and are looking for partners to make this a reality. Our next open meeting will be at the Dirrans Pavilion, Kilwinning on June 7 at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and get involved. You can also attend the next Plug the Gap meeting in Radio City, Kilbirnie on Monday, May 8 at 7.30pm.

“Please check our website at www.onyerbike.club and onyerbikeayrshire sales page on Facebook for more information.”