cycling scotland
Cycling Scotland is Scotland's national cycling charity, delivering Bikeability school training to over 500,000 pupils since 2011, adult cycle training via 60+ providers, social housing bike storage, road safety campaigns, and an open cycling data portal, funded mainly by Transport Scotland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What cycling scotland does
Cycling Scotland is a Scottish-registered charity (SC029760) and the country's national cycling organisation, headquartered at 160 West George Street, Glasgow, with an 11-50 person team. Its mission is to get more people cycling more safely and easily, delivered primarily through the Bikeability Scotland national cycle training programme — a school-based curriculum (Level 1 playground, Level 2 on-road, plus Learn to Ride) that has trained over 500,000 primary pupils since 2011 and reaches more than 1,200 schools, equivalent to 60% of Scottish primary schools delivering Level 2 in 2023-24. Complementary programmes include Play on Pedals (early-years balance bikes in nurseries), Adult Cycle Training delivered via 60+ delivery providers, and the Cycling Friendly employer accreditation scheme.
The organisation also operates supporting programmes that address access and safety barriers to cycling. These include bike storage installations in social housing (delivered with Link Group, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Clyde Gateway, and Glasgow City Council), a bike reuse pilot involving HMP Barlinnie and St Paul's Youth Forum, and the award-winning Give Cycle Space road safety campaign run jointly with Police Scotland. Its technical platform footprint is centred on the Cycling Open Data Portal (umove.usmart.ai), which pulls partner cycle counter data via API and combines it with biannual traffic surveys and the longitudinal Attitudes and Behaviours Research (2017-2023) to produce the Annual Cycling Monitoring Report.
Commercially, Cycling Scotland is a grant-funded non-profit with no disclosed revenue or external shareholders. Funding flows primarily from Transport Scotland (Scottish Government) grants for Bikeability Scotland and research, supplemented by partnership co-funding for regional delivery and infrastructure monitoring. Training for school children is provided free at the point of use; adult training pricing varies by provider with some subsidised places. GTM is community- and partnership-led rather than commercial, relying on all 32 Scottish local authorities for school delivery and a federated network of charities and instructors for adult training.
cycling scotland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- cycling scotland
- Legal name
- Cycling Scotland
- Website
- https://cycling.scot
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cycling Scotland is Scotland's national cycling charity, delivering Bikeability school training to over 500,000 pupils since 2011, adult cycle training via 60+ providers, social housing bike storage, road safety campaigns, and an open cycling data portal, funded mainly by Transport Scotland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
cycling scotland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cycling Training and Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Automobile Driving Schools (611692)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)
Keywords
Where cycling scotland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
cycling scotland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government Grants and Funding: Cycling Scotland receives core funding from Transport Scotland, a Scottish Government agency, to manage and deliver national cycling programs including Bikeability Scotland. Additional funding comes from the Scottish Government's People and Place Programme for specific initiatives like bike storage and social housing projects.
- Partnership and Programme Delivery: Cycling Scotland works with local authorities, regional transport partnerships, and other public bodies to deliver cycling programs, with funding channeled through these partnerships to support training, infrastructure monitoring, and community initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Bikeability Scotland for primary school children - Free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
cycling scotland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cycling Scotland delivers the national Bikeability Scotland cycle training programme for primary school children, together with Play on Pedals early years training and adult cycle training routed through a network of over 60 delivery providers. The charity supports cycle access initiatives (bike storage for social housing, bike reuse pilots), runs the Cycling Friendly accreditation scheme for organisations, and operates the Cycling Open Data Portal publishing automatic counter, traffic survey, and behavioural research data. Core activities are primarily funded by Transport Scotland grants.
Product overview
Cycling Scotland operates as Scotland's national cycling charity offering a portfolio of cycling training programmes and data services. The core offerings include Bikeability Scotland (national cycle training for primary school children), Play on Pedals (early years balance bike training in nurseries), and Adult Cycle Training delivered through 60+ local providers. Supporting infrastructure includes the Cycling Open Data Portal (providing open access to Scotland's most comprehensive cycling dataset via API), the Cycling Friendly accreditation programme, and the award-winning Give Cycle Space road safety campaign. The organisation also publishes the Annual Cycling Monitoring Report and conducts Attitudes and Behaviours Research to track cycling trends. Tools such as the School Checker help parents access training programmes. Together, these services form an integrated approach to getting more people cycling more safely across Scotland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bikeability Scotland: The national cycle training programme for school children, providing the skills and confidence they need to cycle on today's roads. Introduced in 2011 and has trained over half a million pupils.
Products and services
- Bikeability Scotland The national cycle training programme for primary school children, providing the skills and confidence they need to cycle on today's roads. Includes Level 1 (playground skills), Level 2 (on-road training), and Learn to Ride sessions. Free for pupils and funded by Transport Scotland.
- Play on Pedals Early years balance bike training programme delivered in nursery settings, helping pre-school age children develop cycling skills and confidence on balance bikes before progressing to pedals.
- Adult Cycle Training
- Cycling Open Data Portal
- School Checker
- Cycling Friendly
- Give Cycle Space Campaign
- Cycle Training for Work
Quantifiable outcome
- 500,000 young people trained in Bikeability Scotland since 2011
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use cycling scotland
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
cycling scotland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
cycling scotland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Transport ScotlandcoreTransport Scotland is the primary funder of Cycling Scotland's national programs, including Bikeability Scotland. The agency provides grant funding that enables free cycle training for school children across Scotland and supports infrastructure monitoring initiatives.
- SustranscoreSustrans is a key partner in developing cycling infrastructure across Scotland. Worked with Glasgow City Council on South City Way and with Edinburgh on CCWEL, both funded through Sustrans' Places for Everyone Programme.
- All 32 Scottish Local AuthoritiescoreLocal authorities partner with Cycling Scotland to deliver Bikeability Scotland in schools and support local cycling initiatives. Partnerships enable training coordination, instructor networks, and local delivery across Scotland.
- Police ScotlandmajorPolice Scotland partners on the Give Cycle Space road safety campaign and delivers Operation Close Pass in communities across Scotland to improve safety for cyclists.
- Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)majorSPT delivers the bike storage programme in the Strathclyde region, working with seven social landlords to provide secure cycle storage for residents.
- Link GroupmajorSocial landlord partner in Dalmarnock cycle storage project, providing secure bike storage for residents in high-density housing areas.
- Clyde GatewaymajorUrban regeneration company partnered with Cycling Scotland to address transport inequalities and enable more people to choose cycling in regeneration areas.
- Glasgow City CouncilcorePartner in bike reuse pilot initiative, working with HMP Barlinnie and St Paul's Youth Forum to refurbish bikes for redistribution to families in need.
- HMP BarlinniemajorPrison participates in bike reuse pilot, repairing bikes as part of employability programme to provide skills for employment after custody.
- St Paul's Youth ForummajorCommunity organization collects refurbished bikes and redistributes to children, families, and schools who face financial barriers to cycling.
- A Wee PedalmajorEdinburgh-based charity and delivery provider for adult cycle training, having taught over 1,200 people since 2020. Receives funding support from Cycling Scotland.
- Recyke-a-bikemajorDelivery partner for Bikeability Scotland training across Clackmannanshire and Stirling councils, achieving 100% Level 2 on-road delivery.
- Healthy ValleysminorLocal charity based in Rigside providing cycling and bike maintenance support, helped Leadhills Primary School source bikes and a trike for inclusive training.
- Adventure AberdeenminorSport Aberdeen program that partners with Hazlehead Primary School for Learn to Ride sessions for children who haven't yet learned to cycle.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
cycling scotland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- British Cycling: National governing body for cycling across the UK, encompassing Scottish Cycling. Comparable as the broader UK cycling umbrella body with significant government funding, but with primary focus on competitive cycling and performance rather than everyday transport cycling advocacy.
Direct peers
- Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans): UK charity focused on walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure and behaviour change. Directly comparable as a UK active travel charity that Cycling Scotland partners with on infrastructure projects (South City Way, CCWEL) and shares a similar government-funded, partnership-driven delivery model.
- Scottish Cycling: National governing body for sport cycling in Scotland, focused on club development, racing, and competitive cycling. Comparable as a Scotland-based cycling organisation with government and Sport Scotland funding, but oriented toward sport cycling rather than everyday transport cycling.
- Bikeability Trust: National organisation overseeing Bikeability cycle training in England, providing instructor training, quality assurance, and programme standards. Directly comparable as the England counterpart running the same standardised cycle training programme that Cycling Scotland delivers as Bikeability Scotland.
- Cycling UK: The UK's national cycling charity focused on advocacy, rider support, and getting more people cycling. Directly comparable to Cycling Scotland in mission (cycling advocacy and promotion) and business model (membership-funded charity), though Cycling UK operates UK-wide rather than Scotland-only.
Regional players
- London Cycling Campaign: London-based cycling advocacy charity representing cyclists and campaigning for better infrastructure and policy. Comparable as a cycling advocacy charity with similar member-driven model, but focused exclusively on London rather than Scotland-wide operations.
- Paths for All: Scottish charity promoting walking for health and active travel across Scotland. Comparable as a Scotland-based active travel charity with similar government funding and partnership model, but with a walking-focused rather than cycling-focused mission.
Others
- Living Streets: UK charity focused on walking and active travel, complementary to Cycling Scotland's mission. Comparable as a UK active travel charity with similar government and partnership funding model, but focused on walking rather than cycling.
Emerging players
- Wheels for Wellbeing: UK charity advocating for inclusive cycling and accessible infrastructure for disabled cyclists. Comparable as a focused cycling charity with similar advocacy and partnership model, but with a narrower accessibility-focused niche versus Cycling Scotland's broad everyday cycling remit.
- Love to Ride: Global cycling promotion platform running behaviour change programmes and challenges for employers and communities. Comparable as a cycling promotion and behaviour change operator with similar workplace and community engagement focus, but operating as a commercial platform rather than charity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
cycling scotland social profiles
Digital presencecycling scotland compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
cycling scotland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
cycling scotland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
cycling scotland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
cycling scotland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about cycling scotland
What does cycling scotland do?
Cycling Scotland delivers the national Bikeability Scotland cycle training programme for primary school children, together with Play on Pedals early years training and adult cycle training routed through a network of over 60 delivery providers. The charity supports cycle access initiatives (bike storage for social housing, bike reuse pilots), runs the Cycling Friendly accreditation scheme for organisations, and operates the Cycling Open Data Portal publishing automatic counter, traffic survey, and behavioural research data. Core activities are primarily funded by Transport Scotland grants.
Is cycling scotland a public or private company?
cycling scotland is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was cycling scotland founded?
cycling scotland was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is cycling scotland based?
cycling scotland is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does cycling scotland make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Grants and Funding is the primary driver. The others are partnership and Programme Delivery.
Who are cycling scotland's main competitors?
British Cycling is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans), Scottish Cycling, Bikeability Trust and Cycling UK. Regional players are London Cycling Campaign and Paths for All. Living Streets is listed as an others. Emerging players are Wheels for Wellbeing and Love to Ride.
Does cycling scotland have an API?
Yes. The Cycling Open Data portal operates by pulling cycling data from active travel partners' cycle counter dashboards through an Application Programming Interface (API). As cycle counts come into the partners' dashboard, they are automatically shared with the portal. The portal provides real-time data (delayed by a day or two for accuracy) including automatic cycle counter data, walking data, and traffic survey data from across Scotland. Developer documentation is at umove.usmart.ai/organisation/cyclingscotland/dashboard/cycle-open-data.
What industry is cycling scotland in?
cycling scotland's product category is Cycling Training and Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAKAE, Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals). Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 4700.