Cycling - a lifelong learning skill
Agne Buraityte, Campus Cycling Officer at Glasgow Kelvin College talks about cycling as a lifelong skill and the new Velocity Cycling Hub.
The Glasgow Kelvin College vision is Transforming Lives through education, but it is much more than just textbooks and classrooms.
Recently, we opened the Glasgow Kelvin Velocity Cycling Hub, encouraging students, staff and local community to take up active travel.
Our cycling scheme started in 2013 with our Support for Learning students, who got on their bikes, ventured out and explored Glasgow’s streets and parks. These students chose to expand their learning and individual growth outside their classroom, in turn, gaining skills, independence, and confidence. It is our hope and intention to allow more of our students to develop cycling as a lifelong learning skill and encourage them to find ways in which cycling can make their lives better, easier, greener or simply a little more fun.
The Glasgow Kelvin Velocity Cycling Hub is a continuation of all the ideas from our Support for Learning students and their lecturers that has grown into a designated space. The hub is a tangible commitment to our Climate Change Plan for a sustainable college and has been established with the support of Cycling Scotland and Glasgow City Council. Based in a beautiful wild habitat full of stunning blossoms and birdsongs in the summertime, the cycling hub was built with environmental awareness and sustainability concerns at its forefront.
The hub design started with refurbished used modular building and included sustainably sourced wood cladding and a green sedum roof. With every decision we made – from upcycled furniture to a wildflower meadow - we mitigated the hubs negative impacts and embraced the positive ones.
The Glasgow Kelvin Velocity Cycle Hub was officially opened by Councillor Anna Richardson, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction Convenor at Glasgow City Council who unveiled a plaque and, with Keith Irving, CEO of Cycling Scotland and Alan Sherry, College Principal, dispersed ‘wildflower bombs’ to mark the occasion. During the opening ceremony, the college’s efforts have been recognised by Cycling Scotland a ‘Cycle Friendly Campus Award – with Distinction’.
Open to all students, staff, and guests, Glasgow Kelvin Velocity will operate as a one-stop source for all bicycle-related needs. At the hub, we will facilitate bicycle maintenance events, social rides, workshops, training as well as provide information. Glasgow Kelvin Velocity will inspire change and encourage the community to enjoy the numerous environmental, social and health benefits of cycling.
