Bikeability Scotland Award for cyclist dubbed “The Flying Instructor”

The dedication and commitment of an Orkney cycling instructor in “flying the extra mile” to ensure primary pupils across Orkney have had the opportunity to benefit from on-road cycle training has been commended in a national award scheme.

Alex Clark has been named as highly commended runner-up in the Bikeability Scotland Awards Instructor of the Year Category, hosted by Cycling Scotland.

Alex is pictured here with OIC's Road Safety Officer, Yvonne Scott (centre) and Carolynn Leslie, Active Schools Coordinator (left).

Judges were particularly impressed by Alex’s dedication and commitment to supporting Bikeability Scotland across the local authority and of his willingness to fly the extra mile, to ensure that all pupils, no matter how remote their location, had the opportunity to benefit from on-road cycle training before leaving primary school.

Alex is a keen cyclist, enthusiastic instructor, and bike phenetic, working and volunteering in Orkney. Despite running a successful and busy cycle shop, Alex always allows time to volunteer at Orkney Cycling Club and deliver Bikeability in Schools.

During the 2020/21 academic year, Orkney pupils missed out on the opportunity to take part in Bikeability Level 2, due to the global pandemic. However, when schools returned and restrictions eased, Active Schools Orkney, OIC’s Road Safety Officer and Alex Clark put together a programme to ensure that no pupils, transitioned to secondary, without being offered on-road cycle training.

The programme was vast, catering for over 150 pupils, on Mainland and island locations. Due to time constraints and travel, the island visits proved challenging for staff to achieve.

Alex, dubbed “The Flying Instructor”, kindly offered to take on island delivery, flying to rural islands around Orkney. These visits included Rousay, Eday, Papa Westray and Westray Primary Schools’.

Although many of the schools have a small enrolment, without Alex’s contribution, these pupils wouldn’t have received Bikeability Level 2.

Additionally, Alex also helped with Mainland sessions and provided bike maintenance for pupils at Cycle Orkney, encouraging safe cycling at school and at home. Alex also assisted with the planning and delivery of the local Pedal Orkney event, ensuring that all attendees received free bike maintenance on the day.

Without Alex’s annual assistance, delivery of Bikeability wouldn’t be possible in rural locations around Orkney. This was made more apparent, when tackling the backlog of participants after lockdown.

Yvonne Scott (OIC Road Safety Officer) said: “I’m delighted that Alex’s invaluable contribution to delivering cycle training in Orkney primary schools has been acknowledged with the ‘Instructor of the Year – Highly Commended Runner Up’ Award. Alex always delivers to a high standard with dynamic and engaging cycling sessions making participation fun for the pupils. He was paramount this year in delivering cycle training to island school pupils that would have otherwise unfortunately missed out on this important life skill.”

Carolynn Leslie (Active Schools Coordinator) said: “It’s fantastic to see Alex recognised for his commitment and dedication, delivering Bikeability to pupils in rural and hard to reach areas. ‘The Flying Instructor’ has taught pupils in the Orkney islands an invaluable life skill, which gives them the freedom, flexibility and knowledge, to safely travel around the isles.”

Alex said: “As with most awards this is first and foremost a team award for all of us who make Bikeability possible in Orkney. On a more personal note, Bikeability is not just about teaching cycling skills and safety to children but making cycling fun and enjoyable so that they will continue to enjoy riding their bikes throughout their life. I hope that even when standing out in the rain and wind that the children I have coached have enjoyed it and found it fun.”

Active Schools Orkney, Orkney schools and everyone at Orkney Islands Council would like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to Alex for all his assistance.