Bike It in Bristol and South Gloucestershire

There are currently four Bike It officers working in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, find more info on Ben /Ryan / Emma/ Ian below. Lucy has just joined the team, too.

Lucy WatsonLucy Watson - 'Bristol Girls' cycling officer

Contact Lucy: Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol BS1 5DD

Tel: 0117 9150237; bristolgirls@sustrans.org.uk.

Lucy is working on Sustrans' pilot scheme to get more girls cycling, following on from the award-winning Beauty and the Bike project (originally devised by Exeter Bike It officer Emma). This project provides a series of prestigious (and fun) events for secondary school girls, to help overcome their negative images of cycling. It offers health and fitness advice and practical solutions related to looking and feeling good when cycling, along with bike maintenance.

Lucy's two schools for spring and summer 2010 are: Redmaids Girl School, and Fairfield School.

Ben Bowskill - joined Sustrans in 2008 

Ben BowskillContact Ben: Bike It officer, Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol BS1 5DD

Tel: 0117 915 0491, mob: 07500 833 135 or email: ben.bowskill@sustrans.org.uk

“I've been cycling for as long as I can remember and one of my earliest memories is of discovering a gleaming blue racing bike hidden behind the living room curtain on Christmas morning. After a foray into mountain biking in the late eighties I put the bike away in order to concentrate on other worthwhile pursuits like girls and rock music. Since then I've got on and off my bike for various reasons, but always find myself back on two wheels in the end. At college I used my bike to avoid asking my parents for lifts, at university I used it because it was cheap and in my working life I've ridden my bike in order to combat the effects of eating so many biscuits. Most of all though, I've found that my bike has given me the freedom to do what I want when I want to do it, and regardless of what kind of bike I'm riding it's always such a rush getting back in the saddle."

Before becoming a Bike It officer, Ben was a Sustrans press officer, cutting his teeth on press releases about the Bike It project and school travel. Prior to this he was a director of Cycle Training UK in London where he spent over three years helping young people and adults to maintain and ride their bikes more confidently. Ben has a degree in Robotic Engineering, and his first experience of teaching was as an English teacher in state schools in Northern Italy.

Ben's schools for 2009/10:

What's Ben up to?

Ben would like to congratulate Elmlea Juniors who were his highest placed school in the Virtual Bike Race. A big well done also to pupils at five of his schools, who won new bikes by demonstrating their amazing design and literacy skills in ‘Bike to the Future' and ‘Write to Ride' competitions. St. Joseph's held a ‘Wheely Good Inventions' competition looking at ways to be seen at night on a bike, and the Bike It Crew at Stoke Bishop Primary devised their own acrostic poem competition. Thanks also to Emma Downey at Bristol City Council for all her help in making Ashley Down Junior School's family cycling days such a success. Bring on the summer.

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Ryan Evans - joined Sustrans in November 2008

Ryan EvansContact Ryan: Bike It officer, Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol BS1 5DD

Tel: 0117 915 0490, mobile 07500 833 149. 

Email: ryan.evans@sustrans.org.uk

"It's a very exciting time to become one of the new Bike It officers for Bristol. With the Cycling City status and lots of investment in cycling projects, there's no better time for schools to get involved and for kids (and parents and teachers too!) to get on their bikes. Bristol is a great place to cycle around and I'm really looking forward to getting out to schools and spreading the message that cycling is the healthier and more environmentally-friendly way to travel. I hope to show them that it can be safe and fun as well. Cycling can give kids so much freedom and teach them many valuable skills while at the same time giving them a real sense of responsibility and of actively doing something to help the environment and fight climate change.

Before Sustrbas, Ryan worked for five years as a History, Geography and Religious Studies teacher in secondary schools in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. He has also been a museum curator, chef, tour guide, postman and factory worker, and has worked as a campaigner on environmental, human rights and world development issues.

Ryan's schools for 2009/10:

What's Ryan up to?

Ten of Ryan's schools took part in this year's Virtual Bike Race, logging a mammoth 10,000 journeys - a fantastic achievement all round. Related events took place throughout March, from Bike breakfasts and Dr Bike days to classroom quizzes and competitions. After winning last year's local Round the World VBR, St Mary's RC Primary in Bradley Stoke repeated this success in this year's National VBR, coming first out of over 400 schools with an amazing 898 rides to school in just five days, with great support from parents and staff, too.

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Emma Parker - joined Sustrans in November 2009

emma parkerContact Emma: Bike It officer, Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol BS1 5DD

Tel: 0117 915 0492, mob: 07500 833 132, email: emma.parker@sustrans.org.uk

"I am thrilled to work with Sustrans, as Bike It is a fantastic opportunity to help children and their families in so many ways. From a young age I have been inspired to look after our world, and to work in a role where I can help children live a more sustainable lifestyle is such a privilege.

I have always considered cycling to be a realistic alternative to car travel and have used my bike to commute to college, university and work. Bike It helps to show people that cycling really is a great way to travel. In the time it takes me to cycle to work I usually find I've solved a few problems and arrive at work feeling refreshed and ready to go! It is also one of the best ways to appreciate our environment and soak up the sights and smells that car travel just can't match."

Emma has a degree in Environmental Science. Before Sustrans, she worked as a primary school teacher in Birmingham, Dudley and Worcester and more recently as an Environmental Education officer in Wiltshire. She also volunteers for Eco Schools as a green flag assessor.

Emma's schools for 2009/10:

What happened last term?

Sam (who's now relocated to be a Bike It officer in Cornwall) rolled out a Bike It brownie point cycling incentive scheme, with points awarded exchanged for prizes at a brilliant end of term event. Sustrans slap-bands, locks and lights were some of the prizes available. Sam also ran early morning cycling game sessions with Christ Church School in Clifton, to encourage children to get some fun exercise before school starts to get their learning gear in tip top condition! Sam is also thrilled that Red Maids School successfully applied for a cycle storage grant from Bristol City Council. Emma will now continue Sam's good work in her south Bristol schools.

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Ian Tsang - joined Sustrans in April 2009

 Ian TsangContact Ian: c/o Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol BS1 5DD

Tel: 07787 434 281 or email: ian.tsang@sustrans.org.uk

“One of my first memories of cycling was when I was about 6 years old and my dad took the stabilisers off my Raleigh Burner for the first time. I was really scared so to get me started my dad gave me a big push. I started pedalling, gripping the handlebars until my knuckles were white, and amazingly I stayed up.

Nowadays I like to build up old steel road bikes and go touring. I am extremely excited about my new role here as a Bike It officer. I can't wait to meet my schools and start promoting the benefits of cycling to children and adults. I'm looking forward to the sight of school bike stores brimming with bikes!”

Before Joining the Bike It team Ian worked as a learning officer at At-Bristol Science Centre working with schools and community groups. He has an ecology degree, and after university spent two years exploring the environments of Australia and South East Asia.

Ian's schools for 2009/10:

What's Ian up to now?

Ian spent spring working with Bike It Crews and school champions to launch fabulous cycling incentive schemes to reward those making the effort to cycle in. He also awarded six bikes as prizes through a poster competition. Bike It day themes included ‘Recycle your cycle' (servicing donated bikes) and ‘Tag and check' days, where the local police gave talks, spoke to parents and gave away bike passports. Summerhill Juniors had a great Bike Week, launching their new storage and enjoying the talents of bike ace Andrei Burton. Students in Cheddar Grove School set up their own mobile bike shop and sold out on their first outing.

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