OLDER people are being encouraged to get on a bike to help their mental health and overall wellbeing.
A project which invites pensioners to take to the road under pedal power has been given additional funds by the Scottish Government to roll out across the country.
The Cycling Without Age movement began in Denmark, and encourages volunteers to take older people for bike rides using comfortable and safe trishaws.
A pilot project has been running in Falkirk after a £36,000 cash injection from the Scottish Government and the European Social Fund.
Now Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman has said that additional support will now be made available for similar projects across Scotland.
Speaking during a visit to the Falkirk scheme, Ms Freeman said: "We want to see this great initiative spread nationwide.
"There is a lot of work to be done on the detail of the scheme but we are committed to ensuring the required financial and official support are available to provide this to older people across Scotland.
"This is a great example of a community project built on the hard work of volunteers and generous donations from individuals and companies.
"We’d like to see that continue but we’re determined to play our part in helping Cycling Without Age step up a gear here in Scotland.”
Fraser Johnston added: “This is the first government in the world to give its backing to a nationwide rollout of Cycling Without Age.
"It is fantastic to see the importance the Scottish Government places on supporting older people, as well as their commitment to active travel.
"The scheme has gone from strength to strength since I set it up in March this year and I am delighted that it will now be rolled out across the country."
The announcement comes as fresh figures showed that Scotland is well on the path to becoming a top tourist destination for cyclists eager to experience its miles of scenic roads.
National tourist agency VisitScotland research found that one million day trips and 261,000 overnight trips included some form of cycling in 2015, generating a combined total of £106million for the Scottish economy.
Popular routes include the the Loch Leven Heritage Trail, the Ayrshire Coast Cycle Way and the 4 Abbeys Way in the Scottish Borders, while Scotland’s 2, 000 mile National Cycle Network covers some of the country’s most spectacular scenery.
Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland’s Chief Executive, said: “Scotland’s reputation as a cycling destination is growing every year thanks to the creation of new and exciting routes that show the best of our stunning landscapes.
"We also have over 500 miles of traffic-free paths which make Scotland a great family-friendly cycling country."
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