Spring has sprung and what better way to celebrate than cycling or scooting to school? This Thursday, pupils from Bishop Childs primary school in St Mellons are preparing for the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooting competition, where they will take to two wheels for their journey to and from school. Hamish Belding, Sustrans’ Schools Officer will be at the school to help pupils to prepare with a Dr Bike and skills session, checking that pupils and their bikes are ready for the challenge.
Big Pedal runs from 18 – 23 of April and gets pupils, staff and parents leaving the car at home and enjoying cycling and scooting as part of their everyday routines. On each day of the competition schools compete to see who can record the greatest number of pupils, staff and parents cycling or scooting to school. A school’s best five days will determine their final position. A one-day version, which can include cycling and scooting activities in the school day as well as on the journey to school is also available.
Sustrans’ Schools Officer, Hamish Belding said:
‘‘Big Pedal is a brilliant way to get schools excited about cycling and scooting to school. Bishop Childs are preparing to compete against 1,486 other schools throughout the UK and are getting ready today with a Dr Bike and skills session to make sure their bikes and scooters are all set. The challenge is a great way to get the whole school together to do something fun which increases pupils’ daily physical activity levels and in turn benefits pupils’ health and reduces congestion at the school gates – a win win for all involved.’’
Some great prizes are to be won during Big Pedal including an extreme mountain bike show featuring riders with World, European and British titles, guaranteeing a captivating show that the whole school will remember; cycle parking including a Minipod, two Streetpods or a Scooterpod island and much more.
It’s not too late for schools to get involved, registration is still open and can be completed here: http://bigpedal.org.uk/
