CARDIGAN has been chosen as one of four pilot sites in Ceredigion to take part in an innovative new health project.

‘On your Bike’ is a project being run by Rural Health and Care Wales (RHCW), funded by Cynnal y Cardi, which aims to encourage physical activity in young people by giving them the opportunity to use outdoor static bikes to charge their mobile devices.

The bikes will be installed in various locations in four towns across Ceredigion – Cardigan, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth and Lampeter - and will allow young people to generate energy to charge their mobile phones, tablets and iPads.

The idea is to provide a link between outdoor recreation and the high-level engagement with technology, encouraging a more active, healthy lifestyle.

Bethan Jenkins, a development officer with RHCW, said: “The project is mainly focusing on those aged between 14 and 25 but anyone will be able to use the bikes.

“We visited a number of schools, youth clubs and colleges to survey the opinion of young people on having a variety of outdoor static bikes situated across Ceredigion and the idea was really popular.”

Following a consultation period, the four locations have now been selected and work is being carried out to identify sites best suited to installing the bikes, which will be supplied by the Great Outdoor Gym Company, in each town.

Three different types of bike are also involved in the scheme – a hand bike, spinning bike and recumbent bike - and the aim is to have one of each bike in each location, but it may be that there are two spinning bikes and one hand bike etc.

“We are currently liaising with both the county council and town councils to get site permissions,” added Bethan.

RHCW will be attending the Cardigan River and Food Festival on the August 17 to promote the project.