Bike It and our school
Well done! You've made a fantastic decision that could transform your whole school community with car-free roads and healthy, happy children who have learned how to be safe on the roads and travel independently.
Here are some of the facts we present to government and education chiefs, who have supported Bike It from the outset. We've now got almost 60 officers working with around 100,000 pupils a year:
- Studies show that children who exercise before coming to school perform better in their lessons, are less depressed and burn off more calories on bikes than any other form of transport
- If children continue cycling into adulthood, they will be as fit as someone 10 years younger
- The UK's children are second only to the US in obesity levels
- In Denmark around half of all children cycle to school. In the UK it is two per cent (though five times this number on average in Bike It schools)
- Ten bikes can be parked in the space of one car
- Our surveys show more than a third of all children choose cycling as their favourite way to come to school
A bit of Bike It background
Bike It has been hugely successful at its target schools, with five times more children cycling than the national average. It's run by the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, which is also behind the National Cycle Network, Liveable Neighbourhoods and Safe Routes to Schools amongst other projects. We believe that schools are at the core of a healthy, happy community, and our officers are highly trained and expert at working in a school environment.
As well as tackling vital issues such as cycle training, storage, travel plans and parental involvement, our officers provide practical experience of cycling with many different kinds of events and activities - including tailored lessons linked to the national curriculum.
Bike It works alongside Eco and Healthy Schools awards and satisfies all kinds of government requirements on sustainability and school travel. It is also very highly regarded by Ofsted.
The Bike It School Mark
From 2009, schools will be able to participate in the Bike It School Mark scheme, to reward and document their success in maintaining the positive effects of Bike It. Just talk to your school's Bike It officer for more information about how to get involved in this Bronze, Silver and Gold standard support framework.
What a Deputy Head has to say:
"Bike It has completely changed the way our parents and children think about travelling to school - it's changed the whole atmosphere of the school.
"Getting started was much easier than we thought. We began with a parents meeting where our Bike It Officer answered concerns and questions and we have a 'Parent Think Tank' where everyone's ideas are heard. Confidence grew and soon we had new bike stands, a full programme of cycling events and one happy, active bunch of children!
"We're really proud of our bulging bike racks and I think it says a lot about our school. I think it says that we care about our children and their futures."
How to become a Bike It school?
Find out if there's a Bike It officer in your area by checking the location list on the Where's Bike It? page. If there is, ask your school to get in touch with them. If there isn't yet, your school can get in touch with the council who might be able to organise it for you. Ask a parent, carer or teacher to fill in our Ask for Bike It questionnaire.
To find out a little bit more, look through this website and check out the 'Brilliant Bike It' booklet.
There is a documentary on a successful Bike It school on Teacher's TV right now, www.teachers.tv/video/20010.
Good luck and we hope to see you very soon!