Plans are being drawn up for a cycling first in Angus with the creation of a bike library scheme for the Arbroath and Carnoustie area.
Angus Cycle Hub is working with the local authority and Carnoustie Development Trust on a project which would see a fleet of recycled bikes made available for use by the community and visitors.
It is a set-up which has proved a hit in many other parts of the country.
The cycle hub is seeking local views on the proposal, which bring bikes dumped at recycling centres back into use.
A spokesman for Angus Cycle Hub said: “The project is looking to create two to four sustainable hubs in Arbroath and Carnoustie where bikes can be rented/booked out at a very low cost, while providing local information and advice.
“The aim is to promote bike use in and between Arbroath and Carnoustie and link the scheme to help drive bicycle traffic along the National Cycle Network Route 1 (NCN1).
“The scheme hopes to encourage visitors to explore the local area at a leisurely pace and ultimately encourage economic development and business in neighbouring areas while helping reduce carbon emissions at a local level.”
Experience has shown the cycle hub that businesses and accommodation providers get regular requests from visitors looking to rent bikes but no service exists locally to meet that demand.
The spokesman said the scheme is being proposed to encourage active travel journeys in response to the Scottish Government’s Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS) and Angus Council’s local planning priorities and targets.
He said there was also an identified need to provide low cost, alternative and active travel options and reduce short car journeys.
Participants in the survey, which can be accessed through the cycle hub’s Facebook page, will be entered into a prize draw to win a bike.
The cycle hub has already rescued hundreds of bikes from Angus skips for refurbishment and re-sale, and aims to replicate the bike library success in areas such as Yorkshire, where lending rates have surged over recent years.
Earlier this year the hub moved into new premises in Arbroath but recently encountered a hurdle after town councillors questioned the proposed annual lease figure for the Community Asset Transfer of the one-time police station on the corner of Market Place.
The organisation was set to take on maintenance of the building under a 25-year lease at an annual rate of around £1,000.
Arbroath SNP councillor Alex King branded that a “bad deal” when set against the estimated £15,000 per annum market value rental figure for the building.
The not-for-profit social enterprise said it had worked closely with council officials throughout the CAT process and the matter has now been referred back to officials for a further report to be brought before councillors in due course.
