Community / Elaine riding high after scooping national cycle training award
A SHETLAND cycle training coordinator has been recognised with a prestigious national Bikeability Scotland award.
Elaine Skinley was has been given the ‘Keith Fergus Annual Achievement Award’.
She has been involved in on-road cycle training in Shetland schools for 20 years and is now the Bikeability Scotland coordinator and road safety officer for the local authority area.
The award recognises her commitment to personal and professional development.
Skinley was also praised for her strong rapport with her instructor network, her wider support for cycling in the local community, and being fundamental to the authority’s consistent record in Bikeability Scotland delivery.
Every year sees all primary schools and pupils in Shetland provided with the opportunity to participate in on-road cycle training.
Since Bikeability Scotland began in 2010, more than 450,000 pupils across Scotland have participated in the programme. In the 2022/23 school year, a record of 60,000 pupils received training.
This year, the annual achievement award is named in tribute to the enthusiasm and energy of cycling tutor and training coordinator Keith Fergus, who passed away last year, leaving a lasting impact with his support for the development of the national cycle training programme and contribution to the wider cycling community.
Bikeability is the national cycle training programme for school children, managed by Cycling Scotland.
Skinley said: “I’m shocked and delighted to have receive the achievement award, I’ve just been doing my job and having fun teaching pupils to cycle safely on our roads. It’s an important life skill for them to have.
“I’m thrilled to get this award and achieve it, especially with Keith’s name on it as well. He was actually my tutor for my BSIT (Bikeability Scotland Instructor Trainer) course. It makes it a bit more special.”
Bikeability Scotland manager David Collins said: “We are so pleased to celebrate Elaine’s contribution to delivering Bikeability Scotland cycle training, and the substantial impact she and her team have had in Shetland.
“It has been so rewarding to see a record of more than 60,000 pupils receive Bikeability Scotland cycle training this year, giving the next generation the skills and confidence to travel by bike, feel healthier and help tackle the climate emergency.”
Councillor Robbie McGregor, who chairs Shetland’s road safety advisory panel:, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to see Elaine receive this well-deserved award, for her work in such a vital area.
“She’s committed so many years to cycle training in Shetland to make sure that children and young people have the skills to keep themselves safe on our roads.”
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