A Million Miles Better!

Have fun, make new friends, get fitter - just some of the brilliant reasons to get involved in cutting a million miles off car use in our area.

Transition Black Isle is helping Black Isle residents discover the joys of safer, greener more sociable ways of travelling.

We're focusing on cycling, walking, car sharing and public transport in our bid to reduce car journeys by one percent - roughly a million miles - a year.  The project is being funded to the tune of £194,741 over three years from the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund.

Heading up the team are project officers Peter Elbourne and Marion McDonald, who will lead the project until 2015 and a group of community cycle trainers has been recruited to support and encourage people in Black Isle villages in taking to two wheels.

Million Miles had its official launch in August 2012. The Scottish Environment Minister rode across the Kessock Bridge in glorious sunshine to meet children from North Kessock Primary School who showed off their cycling skills.

Among other highlights of the year were a summer cycle picnic, film showings, autumn activities for schoolchildren and an extremely well attended Out and About day in Muir of Ord, where hundreds of locals flocked to the hall to have their say on transport issues and explore ways of getting round the area. 

More recently, the prospect of roadworks on the Kessock Bridge focused minds on helping find ways to help alleviate the traffic misery.  We have launched a Highland Liftshare, a specially tailored website which matches people and journeys, helping them share the journey, share the costs and share the craic.  Footballers from Caley Thistle FC and Ross County helped get the scheme off to a flying start by endorsing the site and encouraging fans to get together to travel to matches.  

Plans are now being made for an action packed programme of events in coming months, including the Black Isle's first ever Bike Fest on 20 April.  Watch this space or contact the Million Miles team here or on 07715663781 to get involved.