Bike It in Brighton and Hove
Ben Sherratt - Bike It officer
Contact Ben:
Bike It officer, Room 406, Hove Town Hall,
Norton Rd, BN3 3BQ
Tel: 01273 293761, mobile: 07824 813 556 or email: ben.sherratt@sustrans.org.uk
Ben joined the Bike It project in February 2008
"I have been cycling ever since I could reach the nearest set of pedals and have used my trusty bike to experience life all over the world. From a sleet-driven blast to work to a glorious mountain sunrise, I am never far from a set of pedals. I have always commuted to work by bike and have a collection of bikes that I use on a daily basis. My current favourite is my long bike which carries children, dogs, tools and the whole week's shopping wherever I want to go in style.
I have taught over a thousand people to cycle, from 18 stone rugby players to 2 year old toddlers. I believe that everyone should have access to cycling as it is by far the best way to see the world."
Before becoming a Bike It officer, Ben trained as a teacher and ran a cycling centre for 8 years specialising in cycling for people with special needs. He has a degree in Leisure and Recreation and a PG Cert. in Environmental and Development Education.
Ben's Schools for 2011/12:
- Alternative Centre for Education (spec)
- Balfour Junior School
- Bevendean Primary School
- Blatchington Mill School
- Carlton Hill Primary School
- Cedar Centre
- Coldean Primary School
- Cottesmore St Mary's RC Primary School
- Downs Junior School
- Fairlight Primary School
- Hangleton Junior School
- Hertford Junior School
- Middle Street Primary School
- Mile Oak Primary School
- Moulsecoomb Primary School
- Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School
- Patcham House School
- Peter Gladwin Primary School
- Queens Park Primary School
- Rudyard Kipling Primary School
- Saltdean Primary School
- Somerhill Junior School
- St Bartholomew's CE Primary School
- St Nicolas' CE Junior School
- St Paul's CE Primary School
- Stanford Junior School
- The Glebe Primary
- West Hove Junior School
- Westdene Primary School
- Woodingdean Primary School
What's Ben up to?
What a term! We have the most enthusiastic bunch of schools ever this year, with a real focus on the Lewes Road. We have been getting out and about with family bike days; meeting parents and helping them to overcome their barriers to cycling, smoothie bike sessions all over the place too. Thanks to some funding from Brighton and Hove City Council, we have been able to plan and deliver extra cycle training to hundreds of children from reception up to year 6 with a focus on Bike-ability level 1 for year 3 and 4 and level 3 for year 6, to compliment what is already happening with the council. We have got a fleet of "Bike It" mountain-bikes managed by the schools and there are learner bikes in many of the early years and foundation classes so that we can start ‘em young! We have bikes and bits available too for workshops in schools so that those without bikes can build one of their own! Oh, and we have been sorting out some great local routes with local bike shop, Rayments Cycles, so that the whole community can get out there and access the Downs! Roll on the springtime!