Transport Minister visits active travel initiative at Darvel Primary

The Cabinet Secretary was welcomed to the school by Ethan, Lewis, Brooklyn, Lillie and Ollie; Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People, and Chief Executive Eddie Fraser; who were joined at the visit by Councillors Jim McMahon, Graham Barton and Barry Douglas; local members Councillors Sally Cogley and Kevin McGregor, and Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Director of Education and Skills.

Darvel Primary has been committed to becoming a cycling-friendly, environmentally sustainable school. To achieve this goal Class Teacher Siobhan Richardson, supported by Head Teacher David McIlwraith, has worked with the whole school community to create a strong network of partnerships, including local not-for-profit social enterprise CycleStation, Ayrshire Roads Alliance and East Ayrshire Leisure’s Active Schools.

For the last three years the school has been working towards achieving the Council’s Clean Green Award and has introduced several key initiatives. The school runs a Bike Bus, which is an active travel initiative that allows children and their families to cycle safely to school in an organised group. The group has grown steadily with increasing numbers of children choosing to cycle as part of their daily routine.

In partnership with CycleStation, the children have received Skills for Life workshops where they the children learned bike maintenance, safe riding techniques and understanding road awareness from a young age. The children also benefit from Bikeability and Mini Rider sessions, which ensure that pupils develop the confidence and competence to cycle safety on roads, supporting long-term behaviour change and encouraging active travel independence.

Each initiative has been supported by the children, providing leadership opportunities for older children to support Bikeability and encourage others to start cycling.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I was pleased to visit Darvel Primary School to see Scottish Government active travel funding at work, making it easier for more children to walk, wheel and cycle.

“It was great to see how a combination of work around infrastructure, facilities, skills training and community buy-in through the local Bike Bus initiative really delivers – all working together to encourage people to leave the car at home and to choose healthier and more sustainable transport.

“To help local authorities across deliver similar initiatives, the Scottish Government is investing over £188 million in active and sustainable transport in 2025–26. In doing so, we’re delivering real change, helping more people to save money, improve health, and reduce emissions.”

Siobhan Richardson, Class Teacher, who was recently recognised nationally by Cycling Scotland for her exceptional dedication to encouraging cycling at the school, said: “Our school is in the middle of the town and for some children it’s just too far to walk. By encouraging cycling, we are reducing congestion by having less cars at drop off and pick up times and it encourages independence among the children.

“The environmental benefit is a huge part of why we are committed to encouraging active travel, but it is more than that. It is about a culture change, about encouraging the children to be active and make positive choices for their overall health and wellbeing.

“When we introduced Bikeability, it was clear that a quite a number of children were unable to ride a bike by P6. We wanted to change that and ensure that all the children had the opportunity to learn. We developed a three-year plan with the aim of ensuring that the children are able to ride a bike by P4. This means that there is time to work on their skills and ensure that they are confident riders by the time they start secondary school. It has been incredibly rewarding watching the children who were scared to try, learn how to ride and now cycle confidently, and seeing the bike bus growing in success too, makes me incredibly proud.

“This has been very much a team effort. By working in partnership with CycleStation, the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, Active Schools and teams across the Council we have been able to introduce real change.”

Councillor Elaine Cowan said: “I was delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to Darvel Primary, along with Councillor Reid, Head Teacher David McIlwraith and Siobhan Richardson to find out more about the school’s commitment to active travel. What is clear is that partnership working is key to improving outcomes for the children of East Ayrshire and creating a culture change that can lead to lifelong health improvements and positive choices.

“The Irvine Valley, which has 120miles of walking and cycling trails, has a proud tradition of cycling and it is wonderful that a new generation is being encouraged to get on their bikes and enjoy the incredible scenery around Darvel.”