Bike It in Ashford and Canterbury
David Robert - Bike It officer
Contact David: Bike It officer, Singleton Environment Centre, Wesley School Road, Singleton, Ashford TN23 5LW
Tel: 01233 628 001, mobile 07824 399126 or email: david.robert@sustrans.org.uk
Read Ashford and Canterbury's latest newsletter online today.
David joined Sustrans in April 2008
"I've been commuting by bike to my place of work or study all my life. Having worked as a teacher and then as a careers adviser to school children, I jumped at the opportunity to combine my passion for cycling with my skills and experience of working with young people. I love seeing a whole school community embrace the project, making cycling part of daily school life. When a Bike Crew made up of pupils manages the project and helps plan and run events I know that the project will become embedded in the school's future.
"Bike It has now spread from Ashford to Canterbury, with a number of schools having already achieved the Bike It Bronze School Mark, in a scheme designed to reward achievements in cycling and enhance long-term commitment to the project. These schools are now working on the Silver Mark by including parents/carers in cycling activities and linking cycling to the National Curriculum."
Before joining Sustrans, David worked as a Connexions Personal Adviser giving careers advice to young people in schools in Canterbury. He's also taught in the UK and abroad, teaching English as a Foreign Language, Drama and Theatre studies.
David's Schools for 2009/10:
- Aldington Primary
- Ashford Oaks Primary
- Beaver Green Community Primary
- Blean Primary
- Godinton Primary
- Highworth Grammar School for girls
- Kingsmead Primary
- Kingsnorth Church of England Primary
- Norton Knatchbull
- Phoenix Community Primary
- Pilgrim's Way Primary
- St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary
- St Mary's CE Primary
- Tenterden Juniors
- The John Wesley Primary
- The North school
- The Towers School and Sixth Form Centre
- Willesborough Juniors
What's David up to?
David has set up a 50-ride incentive scheme, with great prizes to reward individual cyclists for their efforts. With the finer weather, David aims to see at least ten British Cycling Go Ride Clubs running weekly sessions at his schools, with Olympic Track Gold Medallist Jamie Staff MBE visiting for some extra coaching sessions! The town's youth cycling club, The Ashford Derailleurs, is taking part in many rides including one at Ashford's Cycling Strategy launch in May and at the Big Wheel of Kent event in June. Bike It will be active at school sports days and summer fêtes as well as June's Cycle Kent event.
For any information about Sustrans and its Bike It project in Ashford and Canterbury or The Ashford Derailleurs Cycling Club, please contact David.