Bike It News
Looking for Bike It news? The Bike It newsletter brims with updates from Sustrans' Bike It officers across the UK, there's a special London report, too. If you've heard about the Bike It School Mark's Bronze, Silver and Gold scheme (to help reward your school's hard work), simply talk to your Bike It officer. The first Bronze awards are now being proudly displayed in schools, your school could be next.
Brilliant Bike It is a colourful overview that explains how Bike It works, describing the projects impressive results to date, such as more than doubling the number of regular cyclists wherever it operates. One of our Bike It officers has made a short film showing how Bike It has helped her local community: watch Bike It on YouTube now.
1,000s compete in 'Virtual Bike Race'
Eager children in around 440 schools across the UK are currently in the middle of Sustrans' Virtual Bike Race. Over 27,000 journeys by pupils, parents and teachers have been logged already, and we're still in Week One! The 8,000km+ virtual route travels all over Sustrans' National Cycle Network, and pupils receive 'virtual kms' each time they cycle in. Look forward to more bikes on the road (and more cars off it) during the month-long event in March. Visit the VBR website to see who's in the lead.
Bike It scoops London transport award
Sustrans' Bike It in Tower Hamlets has just won the Cycling Improvements category at the London Transport Awards (4 March 2010). Bike It now works with 21 schools in the borough and has increased regular cyclist numbers almost five-fold, from 3% to almost 14%. Bike It is supported by Transport for London, and the Tower Hamlets post is funded wholly by the local NHS Primary Care Trust. Well done to London Bike It officer James.
Bike It School Mark success - en masse!
Eight schools got together for a Bike It School Mark ceremony and were awarded with their Bronze plaque by Mayor of Reigate and Banstead Councillor Richard Mantel. Teachers and local Bike It officer Gayle Rowson were thrilled that the schools' efforts were so publicly honoured, saying: "These eight schools have gone above and beyond to really help their pupils travel more actively. But we won't stop at that - it's on to the Silver School Mark for longer-term sustainable travel activity now!" The ceremony took place at Epsom Downs Primary (image reproduced courtesy of the Surrey Mirror).
Thousands more children to benefit from Bike
Dozens more schools will soon benefit from their very own Bike It officer, with three new posts being created from Blyth in the North East right down to Truro in Cornwall. From this summer, Sustrans will have 58 Bike It officers encouraging tens of thousands of children into the saddle, in around 700 schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Regional supervisor Gary Shipp oversees a 12-strong in the South West and South Wales. He said: "It's such an exciting time for Bike It. The year has got off to a fantastic start, with thousands of journeys being logged daily in the Virtual Bike Race, and many schools now earning their School Mark accreditation for their hard work in making their school travel sustianable. Here's to 2010 being bigger and better than ever!"
From Bike It parent - to cycle trainer
Several enthusiastic mothers with children at a Bike It school in London's Tower Hamlets are getting in on the action thanks to the Tower Hamlets 'U Can 2' project.
This pilot project at Cubitt Town school was designed by Sam Margolis, the local council's Active Travel Officer, who started a cycle project for mums with support from Bike It officer James Scott. It encourages parents to cycle, to help overcome fears about letting their children ride to school. The women quickly saw how active, independent and confident they and their children could become thanks to Bike It safety awareness and Bikeability training. This p
roject was supported by NHS Tower Hamlets, Bikeworks and Cycling England. Visit Sustrans Bike Belles website (aimed at female cyclists) for the full story.