15 October 2010

BikeBoost for Dundee students

Up to 100 students from Dundee will later this month have the chance to get on their bikes, start enjoying the benefits of cycling, and cut their carbon footprint - and all for a 'wheelie' good price.

Dundee Travel Active and Get Cycling have teamed up to deliver BikeBoost, a cycle promotion scheme, to students in the city. All students from the Universities of Dundee and Abertay over the age of 18 are eligible to take part.

A maximum of 100 places are available on the scheme, which aims to encourage the use of bikes in the course of everyday activities like travelling to and from university.

They are invited to apply to borrow a good quality bike and accessories for five weeks. BikeBoost will ask for a £75 deposit and, at the end of the loan period, the bike can be kept in exchange for the deposit, less than a fifth of the £412 total value of the bike and equipment.

Trudy Cunningham, Green Travel Convenor at the University of Dundee, said, 'Being a city centre campus, walking and cycling are the most convenient and accessible ways for students to travel within Dundee. It’s also good for your health as well as the environment, and we’d encourage as many people as possible to give cycling a try.'

James Nicholson, Head of Student Services at the University of Abertay Dundee, said: 'This is a great opportunity to get students cycling, which will help them save money and get healthier at the same time. Dundee is a perfect city for cycling, as our campus is so close to the accommodation and the city centre. We look forward to lots of students taking part!'

A bike cannot be guaranteed for all applicants, so priority will be given to those who are new to cycling in Dundee and whose primary form of transport is currently private car or public transport.

Students must register online at www.bikeboost.org/dundeeuni by Thursday, 21st October, to be eligible for the scheme.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277