Hover over each question to get a response!
I can’t cycle
We can teach you! Contact mark@sustainingdunbar.org for details of cycle training and refresher courses in Dunbar. Bikeability Level 1 will teach you how to ride and use your brakes and gears correctly. Bikeability Levels 2 & 3 are more advanced.
I haven’t got a bike
We can lend you a bike to practise or get lessons on, and the £25 can be used towards the purchase of a new bike from participating local shops. Alternatively you might pick up a second-hand bike on Freecycle or
Ebay, or look out for 2nd-hand bike sales run by Dunbar Cycling Group.
Cycling’s too much work for me
You have to start somewhere. How about a short ride round the woods one evening? We can pair you up with a ‘cycling buddy’ for help and encouragement.
I can’t use an ordinary bike
If you’re unable to use a standard bike, we can advise on how to make adaptations, such as switching round the brakes so they can be operated with only one hand, or how to choose an electric bike or tricycle. We might even be able to get hold of one for you to try out. Get in touch with morag@sustainingdunbar.org
My bike doesn’t work
You can use the £25 to pay for (or put towards) any repairs you might need. Alternatively you can buy the parts you need from Belhaven Bikes, then come along to the Bike Workshop at 10-12noon on Saturdays at Hallhill to learn how to fix things yourself.
I can’t carry my books
Use your voucher to buy panniers or a basket. We can advise.
I might get oily or muddy
Not if you use your voucher to invest in mudguards and a chain guard. A skirt guard will ensure that you can even cycle in a skirt or long coat.
It’s too far to go
If you work in Edinburgh it is clearly too far to cycle everyday, but how about cycling to the train station? Many Dunbar people have an old bike parked at Waverley which they use to get to work at the other end. Or forget about cycling to work, and cycle to the shops when you get home. How about starting your workout early and cycling to the gym or the tennis courts? Or earn yourself dessert and cycle out for dinner?
I don’t like cycling in traffic
We run advanced cycling classes to build your cycling skills. Bikeability Level 2 teaches basic on-road skills including signalling and passing parked cars, while Level 3 teaches how to negotiate roundabouts and more complex junctions.
I don’t know where to go
The recently published Sustaining Dunbar maps highlight local destinations and quiet routes to get there. Dunbar Cycling Group organises a series of local bike rides for all abilities. Visit their website to find out more. You can join in, or just follow their routes in your own time.
I’ve got young children who can’t keep up
We can advise on child carriers and bike trailers, tag-alongs and tandems. There are so many options for carrying children on bikes these days. We might even know someone who could lend you some equipment to try before you buy.
It’s always raining
Not always! Anyway, we’re not going to make you cycle in the rain. Choose a sunny day and get out and see what cycling has to offer you. Cheap, convenient, often quicker than driving and parking, and you get fit in the process. What’s stopping you now?
Any other questions?
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