Two wheels good at Glendale Primary

Glendale Primary pupils are celebrating the joys of two-wheeled transport with the installation of a new £10,000 bike shed. The school applied to the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund to pay for the shelter, which has space for 20 bikes. Pupils, parents and teachers on the school’s eco-committee recognised the health and environmental benefits of cycling to school, and decided to install the shed to encourage bike usage. Nora Benhach, aged 10, won a competition to design a poster to promote cycling, and won a £200 bike from Alpine Bikes. Nora said: “There are too many people double parking near the school. Its better for everyone to cycle, it saves fuel. Its also fun, cycling and swimming are my favourite things. I swim at Woodlands pool, at their ladies sessions on a Sunday. I like to swim in the deep end but older people think I am too young. I designed the poster on the computer.”
Gendale’s crossing guard Hugh Gillan is a veteran cyclist, and bikes to the school every day. He said: “I bought a Dayton Roadmaster bike from a shop called Clydesdale at the Broomielaw when I was 19. It cost me 23 guineas and I had it for years until it was stolen.” Hugh, or Shuggy as the kids call him, was a Marine Engineer with Howden’s in Cardonald before he retired. Hugh helps to maintain pupil’s bikes, fixing punctures and other problems.
Pip Ryan’s daughter Eilidh is in primary two at the school. Pip said: “We want to get 20 people cycling regularly to school, both staff and pupils. This will save 1.67 tonnes of Co2 a year, reducing the schools carbon footprint.”

Nora Benhach, 10, with lollypop man Hugh Gillan.