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Inspiring people to walk, wheel and cycle as a route to better health and happiness.
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Involving people in practical training, walks and bike rides to make Active Travel accessible and affordable to more people.
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Informing people about training and development opportunities relating to Active Travel.
What is it?
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Part-time walking and cycling co-ordinator, Sara Hawley, - leads walks, bike rides and organises events linked to Active Travel at a local level.
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A dedicated space in the town at the Castle Gatehouse to provide access to bikes and equipment for residents.
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A varied programme of walks, bike rides, and training opportunities to help people develop the skills they need to maintain bikes, lead walks and share information about Active Travel.
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E-bike loans for local people wanting to try out electric bikes
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A free local App, Dunoon Forward – providing local information and heritage inspired walks and cycles around the local area.
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Ongoing research and community enagagement to inform the development of Active Travel at a local level.
Dunoon on the Move is based in the Castle Gatehouse, Argyll Street (opposite the Calmac Ferry Car Park).
Through a coordinated approach to walks, bike rides and bike loans, Dunoon on the Move aims to help more people walk, wheel and cycle more often around the area.
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Sarah Hawley works with a small team of volunteers and partners to organise and host these events, connecting people to new opportunities and experiences that improve their health and wellbeing.
What local challenge is this project addressing?
We know that people living in the Dunoon area can struggle to maintain good health and wellbeing. We also know that our climate, which is mild but wet, can put people off considering a walk or a bike ride. The poor condition of roads, pavements and a lack of signage can also impact negatively on the way people move around the town.
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According to population data 28.7% of the local population are over the age of 65, slightly higher than the rest of Argyll and Bute at 27.26%. Many of these people live on their own. We know from talking to these people that they would like to get out and about around the town more often, but they would prefer to walk with other people, rather that walk alone.
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Prescription rates for anxiety and depression drugs are also higher in Dunoon than the rest of Scotland. In Dunoon prescription rates are at 25% compared to Scotland's average of 19.3. Going out for a walk or bike ride is a simple but effective way of helping ease the symptoms of these illnesses, but sometimes people need a bit of help to get started.
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Dunoon on the Move aims to address these local challenges by making walking, cycling and wheeling more accessible to local people. Through this project Dunoon Community Development Trust is working closely with partners, HiTrans and Argyll and Bute Council to build on the physical cycling and walking infrastructure across the town to support positive change.
Project partners and funders >
