A recent report into the Beat the Street East Kilbride game surveyed participants six months on. The results show that the initiative has had a long-term impact on the active travel levels of local people of all ages and has helped more people get into cycling and cycle training.

Beat the Street East Kilbride took place in the autumn of 2022 and engaged around 15.7% of the town’s population (11,803 people) who collectively walked, cycled and ran 58,478 miles during the six-week game.

The Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “The council has brought Beat the Street to South Lanarkshire for some years now and once again in East Kilbride it was a great success last year.

“We are delighted that the game encourages residents to enjoy healthier lifestyles, to take part in sport and activity and to increase opportunities for participation for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

“We’re particularly pleased with the work that has been done with the Bikeability scheme to share knowledge about cycling around the area safely. All the signs are that Beat the Street is both great fun for the young people and families who take part and, importantly, has a long-term effect in more active lifestyles."

Nine members of Universal Connections were trained as Bikeability Instructors by Beat the Street Engagement Coordinators Craig and Margaret Dalziel under the Cycling Scotland’s training scheme. This enabled them to deliver courses to young people and they will now roll out training to children in their care and run classes for those who use the centre as a drop in during the school holidays. Ultimately, this will enable them to undertake the Essential Cycling course and run classes both for adults in safe cycling, and for families to take part in rides together as a whole.

The Beat the Street Engagement Coordinators also provided Universal Connections with information to help them source a fleet of new bikes, together with maintenance courses and parts required to sustain the future of the fleet. In addition to this, 24 S6 students from St Andrews and St Brides High School were also trained as Bikeability Instructors. The students were a mix of Sports Leaders and disengaged learners who are now able to deliver on road cycle training to primary school children under Cycling Scotland’s training scheme. The children learn safe cycling skills, road safety and basic maintenance checks, and eco and active travel.