Sustrans: More children cycling to school

Date: 9/6/2010

Sustainable transport charity Sustrans has revealed the number of pupils cycling to schools that have run its Bike It scheme has doubled.

According to a report, 26 per cent of youngsters now ride to school at least once a week compared to 13 per cent before the initiative started.

Director of School Travel at Sustrans Paul Osborne said the organisation now reaches around 150,000 children and works with over 800 academic facilities.

He remarked: "As pupils' journeys become longer, cycling projects such as Bike It play an important role in making a wider choice of schools accessible to their students."

Mr Osborne added it is more important now as many local authorities have slashed funding for school transport.

The body joins forces with education establishments, children, teachers, parents and local authority staff to provide new bike sheds and cycle training, along with road safety information to ensure kids can stay safe when they ride on their bikes.

Last month, children at a Suffolk school took part in a cycle safety course run by local police and representatives from the Road Safety Partnership.

Posted by Nick Anderson