A new cycling initiative started by a Glasgow homeless charity is allowing them to help vulnerable rough sleepers.
Street Cycles was launched by Simon Community Scotland - the largest provider of homelessness services in the country - three years ago to reach and connect with people at risk of rough sleeping in the city, reports Glasgow Live.
The team of volunteers work with Simon Community's Street Team to help those most at risk of rough sleeping.
During the lockdowns they have continued to operate throughout by riding around the city and finding those in need and getting them into emergency hotels.
They also provide essential items and on occasion administering the life-saving drug Naloxone to people who were in overdose.
Hugh Hill, Director of Services at Simon Community, said: "We knew there were people sleeping outside the city centre, women in particular seek out hidden spaces, they have to, they need to feel safe so they have become very good at keeping a low profile.
"Our Street Cycles team are able to get out to places quickly and much further away to connect with people and help them find a safe place to stay.
"Last month was a good example having received a call from a member of the public the freephone helpline about a tent in Pollok Park.
"The team were able to get there really quickly though there was no sign of anyone staying there. Having the bikes means they are able to keep going back to check for anyone sleeping there. Thankfully no one was."
One of the volunteers, Craig, said: "We sometimes come across people very distressed and just taking the time to listen and to care can make a huge difference to people."
The team has been so effective in supporting people that a new Street Cycles team has just been launched in Edinburgh this month, utilising e-bikes to move around the city as part of a concerted effort to prevent rough sleeping in the capital.
If you are interested in joining the Street Cycles team you can visit Simon Community's volunteering page on their website here.
Weird - it was there earlier.
mdavidfrodo?
I'm not a Lance fan at all but the snarky tone of this is just dumb.
How can anybody reject the beauty of that? It's a wonderful mix of modern tech yet absolutely functional.
Not unless theVED is made eye wateringly expensive....
Hyponatremia is a real risk even for an amateur cyclist or runner in hot weather. I've bonked from it before, and I was drinking Gatorade the whole...
in the UK we have policing which to a greater or lesser extent relies on assistance from members of the public......
Just wanted to share a quick thank you to everyone who helped out in this thread....
So...don't cycle on it. Lots of other routes around that area. Source: I used to work there.
My photochromic specs have just turned up in the post today