Workshop closure may impact on council bike pilot

The closure of a social enterprise that promoted cycling could have an impact on Highland Council's electric cargo bike pilot project, the local authority has said.

Velocity in Inverness has closed and a legal process is under way to liquidate the business and potentially sell off its assets.

The café and bicycle workshop was involved in servicing and maintaining bikes in the council's environmentally-friendly transport scheme.

Highland Council said: "We are currently reviewing the situation and exploring options to mitigate any disruption to the project."

Velocity in the Crown area of the city was launched in 2012.

Solicitors Stronachs LLP have begun the process of winding up Velocity at Inverness Sheriff Court.

Social enterprises are businesses run for a social or environmental purpose.

Velocity's café offered vegetarian and vegan options and won Scotland's Cyclist Café of the Year in 2018 and 2020.

People were able to book its workshop at low cost to carry out repairs on their bikes, with the option of having a mechanic oversee the work.

In a report in October, Highland Council said using e-cargo bikes had reduced journey times and brought health and wellbeing benefits for staff.

Some workers have been using the bikes, which have an in-built storage area, in the pilot project that started last April.

Fort William Child Health, Highland Archive Service and an Inverness-based roads staff have been among the teams involved in the trial.

Highland Council said feedback suggested e-cargo bikes were preferred to using other forms of transport.