Active BioQuarter

Active BioQuarter supports staff and students at BioQuarter to build more movement into their working day or their daily commute.

Active BioQuarter Logo

Active BioQuarter is a new project to support staff and students at BioQuarter to consider building more movement in to their working day or their daily commute. There will be lots of events, training, and other opportunities to get walking, wheeling and cycling.

Prize draw

To help encourage you to get active, participants in our project activities can opt to enter a prize draw for a £100 Love2Shop voucher. There will be 3 prizes, and we will pick a random winner from everyone who has participated in an activity (and has opted into the prize draw) within the following time-frames:

  • 1st June - 30th September 2024
  • 1st October - 1st December 2024
  • 2nd December - 31st March 2025

After participating in a project activity, you will be asked to complete a short survey to help with monitoring and evaluation. Doing so will give you an additional entry to the prize draw.

Scheduled events

Feel Good Walks & Cycles

We have partnered with the Active Lives team to arrange Feel Good Walks & Cycles. These are an opportunity to meet like-minded people, feel part of a community and stay connected. Our small groups are led by experienced and welcoming walk & cycle leaders. Meeting up with others for a walk / cycle and a talk can do wonders for our physical, mental and social health.

Upcoming cycle rides

Event Requirements
  • We offer beginner-level cycle ride, but you must be able to safely cycle in traffic or have completed Level 1 and 2 of cycle training.
  • All riders must show respect to other road users and follow the Highway Code.
  • Helmets are required.
  • If you are bringing your bike, please ensure it is road safe.
What to Wear and Bring
  • Wear whatever you feel comfortable in, avoid loose and baggy clothing that could get caught in the chain.
  • Please check the forecast ahead of the ride and wear appropriate clothing for the weather.
  • Bring snacks and water for the ride – ensure you have enough food to sustain you for the whole duration of the event.
  • Any medication you might need for the session, e.g. Asthma medication.
  • Bring sunscreen if the weather is hot and sunny.

For the cycle rides we can provide a pedal bike and a helmet, or bring your own! If you wish to book a bike & helmet please email active.lives@ed.ac.uk and include your height.

DateTime Book
Monday 17th March12:30 - 13:30Book here
Monday 31st March12:30 - 13:30Book here
Monday 14th April12:30 - 13:30Book here

Upcoming walks

We have partnered with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust who will be leading some themed nature walks around Little France Park.

Meeting point: outside the entrance of Institute of Regeneration and Repair (North)

Dates (no need to book, just turn up):

DateTimeDescription
Tuesday 11th February12:30 - 13:30Explore the trees and learn how to identify trees in winter from their bark, branches and buds.
Tuesday 25th February12:30 - 13:30Look for signs of mammals in the landscape.  What do foxes, badgers and deer leave behind and how can we use them to understand their lives?
Tuesday 11th March12:30 - 13:30Cultivating curiosity, noticing nature with our senses.
Tuesday 1st April12:30 - 13:30How we can use apps to explore nature and deepen our understanding of species within the park.

Ongoing opportunities

1-to-1 Cycle Training

We will put you in touch with a qualified trainer and they will work with you on a 1-to-1 basis to develop your cycling in a personalised way. That might mean:

  • Learning to ride as an absolute beginner
  • Improving your bike control skills so you can signal one-handed
  • Helping you to gain the confidence to tackle a particular junction or route you've always been worried about
  • We can also offer cargo-bike specific training.

These classes are entirely free, though we limit each individual to a maximum of 10 hours of training.

Doctor Bike

Doctor Bike is a free bike maintenance service for staff and students. Doctor Bike takes place monthly, in Hospital Square from 12pm to 2pm (or behind Chancellor's Building in poor weather), then outside Building Nine from 2:30pm to 3.30pm. The dates for Semester One are:

  • 27 February 2025
  • 27 March 2025
  • 24 April 2025

Bike Maintenance Classes

Learn all about taking care of your bike, so that it rides smoothly and maintenance costs are reduced. These classes are delivered by local social enterprise The Bike Station, in their dedicated training workshop on Causewayside.

The Beginners' course covers:

  • Safety Checks (before you ride and detailed inspection)
  • Maintaining your bike (washing, general upkeep)
  • Lubricating and cleaning
  • Puncture repair

You can also sign up for Intermediate level courses covering:

  • adjusting your gears
  • braking systems

You will be issued with a discount code to reduce the cost to just £10 (normal advertised price is £40).

About the Active BioQuarter project

This project is being jointly delivered by the University's Transport Office, Active Lives team, and Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability. Funding for the project comes from SEStran's People and Place 2024/25 grant.

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