Golden Hoy to 'boost' cycle use

Cyclists compete at the Beijing Olympics

The triple Olympic gold medal success of Scottish cyclist Chris Hoy will be used to encourage more people in the Highlands to bike to work.

A follow-up to last year's AlternativeNess - where people were asked to swap their cars for "greener" transport - will be held next month.

Jim McCreath, of Inverness and Nairn Transport Forum (Intrans), said cycling was enjoying a high profile.

The latest Intrans event will be held on 22 September.

Last year's AlternativeNess saw Inverness residents being urged to give up their cars for a day and travel by bicycle, public transport and pedicabs.

It also launched Re-Cycle, a project allowing commuters to borrow bicycles to complete their journey to work.

Fuel costs

Mr McCreath said of AlternativeNess: "We will be doing something similar this year and we will be hoping to use the high profile of cycling at the Olympics.

"Clearly the profile of Chris Hoy has put cycling right to the top of the agenda."

High fuel costs and congestion could also play a part in getting more people to take up cycling, he added.

Major employers will be targeted in an effort to get them to foster cycle-to-work schemes.

The Re-Cycle project has had mixed fortunes since its launch last September.

Bikes handed into the police which have remained unclaimed have been offered free of charge to commuters travelling in by train, car or bus.

The scheme has 60 names on its register, but just six daily users and six occasional ones.

Those who do use it has included commuters from Tain, Huntly, Keith and Lossiemouth.

Mr McCreath said Re-Cycle had proved it could work in practice, but said he would like to see greater use of the scheme.

The project also involves Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (Hitrans).

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