A COMMUNITY fitness programme is looking to encourage residents in the Vale of Leven to ditch their cars and get outside and enjoy the fresh air on two wheels.

Vale of Leven Trust launched its Active Travel Hub last September after applying for funding from both the National Lottery Community Fund and the Energy Savings Trust.

The Trust received cash to buy 20 state-of the-art electric bikes which its members hope will get people back out in the community to enhance their mental health and fitness.

Last week, the Reporter visited the Trust – which is due to move from its base in Mitchell Way to a new, unconfirmed, location – to see get up to speed with the hub’s plans.

Caitlin Watson, 36, from Dumbarton, works at the Trust and said the purpose of the travel hub is to make the Vale of Leven “more of a town”.

Caitlin added: “It’s just about improving the Vale of Leven area in general, as it’s quite run down.

“Obviously the active travel hub is to try and get people out being active, leave their cars behind, have a healthier lifestyle.”

Over the last few months the Trust said it has seen its client base “grow slowly but surely”.

The Trust applied for funding to buy 20 “state-of-the-art” electric bikes

The Trust applied for funding to buy 20 “state-of-the-art” electric bikes

Gordon Dick, a member of both the Vale of Leven Trust and Lomond Roads Cycling Club, explained that his drive to continue helping run the weekly sessions is knowing that they contribute to the local community.

He said: “We’re particularly trying to target people who maybe haven’t cycled for a long time, or have been housebound and have lost the confidence to come out on a bike, to come out and mingle again and get some fresh air and exercise.

“Especially during the lockdown there we’ve been trying to enhance our presence here and get people to realise that’s why we’ve got these e-bikes.

“It’s to allow people who aren’t particularly fit to come out and still enjoy the fresh air, enjoy the social aspect of it and get some interaction with us and get back out in the community, enhance their mental health and their fitness.”

Those joining the session for the first time take part in a cycle skills class

Those joining the session for the first time take part in a cycle skills class

The 55-year-old, from Old Kilpatrick, said that even if people only attend one session and don’t return, he hopes they will take away some enthusiasm for the activity.

Gordon added: “I mean during lockdown there, people’s mental health were all over the place, and to go out for a half-hour, an hour, bike ride clears your head no end and it’s getting that message across and if we can facilitate that in any way shape or form it just makes you feel as if you’ve done something for the community.

“Even these wee skills sessions, we take folk over there who have maybe not been on a bike for months or years and by the time they finish they’re coming back here with a big smile on their face.

“Even if they don’t ever come back at least the half-hour they had with us, they’ve enjoyed it and hopefully they’ll take that away.”

The Trust offers a host of different sessions which are timetabled to take place each week.

These include cycle skills classes, group bike rides, and health walks.

Anyone interested in taking part is welcome to do so, as the group is currently looking to recruit new volunteers.

Reporter Ava Whyte gets up to speed Bike participants are taught about safety

Reporter Ava Whyte gets up to speed Bike participants are taught about safety

Caitlin said: “Come down and have a chat with us or give us a call and we can explain what it’s all about.

“People don’t need to join the group although we publicise the skills sessions and the cycle rides and things we can always arrange one-on-one activities as well if you feel a bit shy, we can arrange a different time and day for someone to come down and just give it a go.”

Gordon added that even if someone is not feeling too confident on the bikes the Trust will “take you from zero to 100 per cent in a matter of weeks”.

He said: “We’re overly enthusiastic about it, I mean we love what we do and we want to try and part that excitement and benefit to other people.

“Anybody who wants to come down give us a phone, drop in, send us a letter, doesn’t make any difference we’ll reply and we’ll get back in touch and once they come down here hopefully meet us and see how enthusiastic we are about it.

“We can explain the benefits to it and the fact that we’ve got all these cracking state-of the art bikes you don’t need to be particularly fit to use.”

For those interested in finding out more about the activities that the Vale of Leven Trust offer, email: info@valeofleventrust.com.