Cycle to School Week starts today

Monday 03 October 2022

More school children than normal might be cycling to and from lessons today, at the outset of a week-long effort to encourage more active travel.

Cycle to School Week is being supported by schools, the Health Improvement Commission, Traffic and Highway Services, and others.

It coincides with a recent number of Bikeability training sessions starting in ten primary schools, giving pupils in year five and six key cycling skills.

Colin Le Page of Traffic & Highway Services, said these skills are vital to keeping them safe. 

Pictured: Bikeability training enables safe cycling on roads and cycle paths. 

"Bikeability training, formerly known as cycling proficiency, has seen great success in recent years. The training not only inspires confidence in young people to cycle to school, which is a great way to be active and improve concentration in class, but it also provides them with a life skill that will benefit them into adulthood.

"Cycle to School Week is a great opportunity to give cycling to school a go and we’d encourage children and their parents to take part in the week and Bikeability training taking place in their schools."

Frankie Middleton is one of the island's Bikeability instructors. She agreed that cycling is a key life skill. 

"As the new terms start again, we’re pleased to have a new schedule in place and to teach as many children as we can the training course, giving them core skills so they can enjoy cycling with friends and family and even start to incorporate it as a regular means of travelling to school."

The Health Improvement Commission has also recently provided financial backing to enable a series of adult cycle skills courses, with the support of the Bikeability instructors.

Pictured: The Health Improvement Commission works on a number of projects to encourage active lifestyles.

Alex Costen, Active Travel Officer at the Health Improvement Commission, said they are keen to work with schools and families to promote cycling for everyone, as well as walking, as part of daily life, instead of using the car for everyday journeys. 

"Cycling helps both our planet and our wellbeing. Learning to cycle is also an important life skill, which we hope children will continue to enjoy into adulthood. During Cycle to School Week, run by The Bikeability Trust, we hope families and children make a pledge to swap even one or two journeys during the week, or perhaps to go out with their family at the weekend and discover somewhere new on a cycle ride."

Pictured top: File image, children cycling to St Martin's Primary (Rollo de Sausmarez).