Some of the lessons learned are as follows.

• A substantial number of pupils who owned their own bicycles also began to use them on a more regular basis.
• In many schools there were no pupils cycling to school. With the introduction of the scheme and the knock-on effect on other pupils, the number cycling to school rose to seven per cent of the pupil population.
• When bicycles are being bought it is important to make sure the frames are the right size, given that there needs to be a range available for the different sizes of young people.
• It takes time to set up and develop the cycle clubs in the schools.
• Some issues are beginning to be raised about ongoing maintenance.
• It is important to buy good quality bicycles (approximate cost £200) to reduce the occurrence of maintenance issues. The provision of the bicycles had to go out to tender, so the specification needed to be tight in order to get exactly what was required.
• It is necessary to ensure that there is ownership of the scheme from the school and also people to ‘champion’ the scheme.
• Training is a vital element of the scheme.

As a result of the above lessons, any schools considering participating in a bicycle loan scheme should consider the following suggestions, which would contribute to the success of the scheme.

• Initially set up a cycling club. This would require consideration of staff time allocation and could provide the opportunity for partnership working with external agencies.
• An assessment process to allocate bicycles to pupils, which could take into consideration the commitment, enthusiasm and responsible attitudes of pupils’ parents and of the pupils themselves.
• setting up and ongoing maintenance of a record-keeping system that accurately tracks the allocation of bicycles to pupils.
• Loaning bicycles to pupils on a trust basis using the same format as ‘on-loan musical instruments’. Should any bicycles or equipment be stolen or damaged, the parents/pupils, where financial circumstances permit, should be encouraged to repair or replace same.
• The organisation and delivery of the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme to cycle club members.
• The delivery of basic bicycle maintenance training to cycle club members.
• Participation in organised cycling activities and cycle trips using the Glasgow Cycle Network and the National Cycle Network.