Kirkcaldy to get community bike shop on High Street

The shop, operated by Greener Kirkcaldy, will run as a social enterprise, with all profits being invested in the drive to get more Kirkcaldy residents cycling.

This is a brand new project for the town, funded by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund and Path for All’s Smarter Choices, Smarter Places, with the aim of making it easier for people in Kirkcaldy to cycle more.

David Glover, Greener Kirkcaldy’s new cycle workshop and retail co-ordinator, said: “Lang Toun Cycles will be a proper cycle workshop and recycling centre in the heart of the Kirkcaldy community.

“The shop will operate as a social enterprise, with all profits invested in getting more Kirkcaldy people cycling.

“Whether you’re new to the world of cycling, an experience cyclist, or just an everyday person who cycles, we’ll do everything we can to get, and keep, you cycling smoothly and happy”.

Greener Kirkcaldy are looking for new town centre premises for the project and hope to open this Summer, but for the time being are operating a temporary Cycle Surgery from the Greener Kirkcaldy building on East Fergus Place.

David added: “We’ve been running weekly free Dr Bike sessions throughout June, and will soon be offering regular very reasonably priced bike servicing and repair options from 8 East Fergus Place.

“Longer term, once we have a larger location, we will offer bike maintenance workshops, and will also be looking for donations of old bikes that can be repaired and refurbished to then be sold from the shop.

“So if you have any unused bikes that you would be willing to donate please bear us in mind.”

The news come as the Scottish Green Party have written to Fife Council proposing a number of ways to improve cycling in the Kingdom, while using an available £30m fund from the Scottish Government.

The Greens outline 30 ways walking and cycling could be made safer in Fife, including a shared cycle and walking path between Kirkcaldy and Kinghorn, and Burntisland.

The £30m Spaces for People programme helps councils close roads, widen pavements and put in new cycle lanes to give people space for walking and cycling during the Covid-19 outbreak, but Fife Council has yet to confirm if it will be applying to the fund.

Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Mark Ruskell co-signed the letter.

He said “Coronavirus and the lockdown have significantly changed the way we travel across Scotland, but recent increases in traffic suggest this won’t be permanent unless we make physical changes to help people walk and cycle more.

“The Spaces for People fund is a unique chance to lock in the changes we’ve seen during lockdown, and start addressing the climate emergency and wider public health through more active travel.

“My amendments to the Coronavirus Bill last month mean these measures will now last for 18 months instead of six, and could become permanent if local people find them helpful.

“It would be deeply frustrating for Fife to miss out this opportunity.”

Fife Greens Co-convener Leo Philp added: “Reduced traffic during the pandemic has seen more people feeling confident walking and cycling around Fife.

“I’ve been one of them.

“But, when we start talking about walking to school or cycling to work, we can all think of one place that holds us back: where the pavement is too narrow, where there isn’t a place to cross, or where the traffic is too close and too fast.

“The response we’ve had shows just how many people see ways to make their roads and pavements safe for everyone to use.

“With this fund Fife Council has a real opportunity to act on their suggestions.”

To find out more on the Greener Kirkcaldy bike hub plan, contact David Glover, Cycle Workshop and Retail Coordinator by emailing [email protected].

The 30 proposals contained in the Scottish Greens letter highlight schemes in specific parts of Fife, as well as some general measures.

The party’s blueprint includes:

General

measures

An online consultation allowing members of the public to submit ideas for their local communities

Reviewing speed limits, including reducing selected rural roads to 30mph to create rural safe cycling corridors and completing the 20mph roll out in all towns and villages.

Increased enforcement of existing speed limits, especially in 20mph zones.

Adding double yellow lines to prevent parking in existing cycle lanes, and ensuring they are enforced

Promoting existing cycle ways and walking routes through e.g. maps, advertising, social media messaging

Ensuring all park-and-ride sites have safe connections to cycleways and walking routes

Begin to address pavement parking ahead of the national ban due to be rolled out next year

Tackling air pollution to enable people to be more active outdoors

More cycle paths in rural Fife, allowing for safe cycling between rural communities

Installing bike repair stations at key points in the Fife cycle network

Mid Fife

Widen the footpath between Burntisland and Kinghorn to accommodate shared use for both pedestrians and cyclists

Create a cycle or shared use path between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy

Wider shared use pavement at Dunnikier Road, connecting to the town centre and the hospital, along with a reduced speed limit of 20mph

More cycle parking in Kirkcaldy town centre.

North East Fife

Dedicated cycle lane on the Tay Bridge, to allow for commuting between North Fife and Dunde

Widening the cycle paths between Dunshalt and Falkland, or consolidate into one wider segregated cycle path to improve cyclist safety

Shared use cycle and walk way between Strathmiglo and Auchtermuchty to allow active travel along the A91 and connecting with Glentarkie and Pitmedden forest.

Extension of footpath from Dunbog to Lindores

A safe crossing at the junction of the B936 and the A92 at Freuchie / Bridgend Garden Centre for walkers and cyclists, and a cycle path connecting Freuchie to Kettlebridge and Kingskettle.

Repairs to potholes on key cycle routes in St Andrews, including Hepburn Gardens and the Old Course access road leading to the Leuchars cycle way.

Improved signage and road markings at pedestrian crossings in St Andrews

Cycle path between Crail and St Andrews