Time to get on your bike at Buckie High!
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STAFF at Buckie Community High School (BCHS) who fancy taking their bikes to work have been handed a boost.
Thanks to funding sourced from Cycling Scotland, a new bike storage unit for staff members' bikes has been installed outside the school.
Behind the move is PE teacher Stefan Wojcik, himself a keen cyclist.
He said: "We have staff who want to cycle to work but some of them were a bit reluctant as there wasn't much in they way of storage space, they maybe had to haul their bike up three flights of stairs [to their rooms].
"I thought that having some sort of storage area would be a good idea. [BCHS rector] Neil Johnson and myself came across Cycling Scotland funding for storage spaces.
"Myself, Neil Johnson and Yvonne Taylor [BCHS business support officer] put together a funding bid for a bike shed; we were successful in our bid so we've now got a storage area for around 10 bikes.
"This will hopefully promote staff bringing their bikes in to work now that we have a secure storage area. Everyone who uses is has their own individual key.
"I've already got five regulars and potentially another 10 or 11 interested, so it's hardly got off the ground but we've already doubled the number of people taking their bikes to school."
The cash was sourced from a wider Cycle Scotland scheme to encourage people to take their bikes to work instead of driving.
Mr Wojcik went on to say that he believed cycling was becoming steadily more popular among the staff, with those who live further afield effectively splitting the difference by driving part of the way to Buckie and cycling the rest.
Praising the project, Mr Johnson said: "I'd like to thank Stefan for the persistence required to get this done.
"It's taken about a year but it's been worth all the time and effort."
The staff bike storage shed initiative is the latest in the school's drive to help promote cycling and healthy lifestyles in general.
The school is also host to a storage area for Buckie Bike Club, which was launched in March this year. Run by the Peoplehood Project, the club offers a variety of different types of bikes on loan.
Peoplehood members should use the online booking system on the tablets they received as part of the project. Non-members should email Peoplehood's local engagement co-ordinator James Farley at jamesfarley@blackwoodgroup.org.uk to secure the loan of a bike.
