Bike It in Bristol and South Gloucestershire

 

There are currently four Bike It officers working in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.  More information on Ben /Ryan / Sam/ Ian.

Ben Bowskill - Bike It officer 

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

Ben joined Sustrans in November 2008

“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?

Last autumn before the snow set in, we had some great events, from bike breakfasts and bike races to Dr Bike sessions, to make sure that bikes were in tip-top condition. At some of the breakfasts, we were able to offer delicious fruit smoothies blended by bicycle, as well as raffles to win wonderful biking goodies. Next, we focused on preparing everyone for riding through the winter by holding light sales, giving assemblies and advice, as well as amazing ‘bling your bike' sessions where people decorated their bikes in bright and beautiful ways.

In one of my schools we organised a family bike ride and barbeque and I'm hoping that, as the weather improves into spring, I'll be able to organise many more rides.

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Ryan Evans - Bike It officer

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

Ryan joined Sustrans in November 2008

"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.

"Being a Bike It officer is a real dream job for me. I have cycled for as long as I can remember and I love riding to work, whatever the weather!"

Before joining the Bike It team, 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?

2009 was very busy, with a big focus on being safe and seen as the winter nights got longer. All my primary schools had Be Safe Be Seen workshops and there were some great hi-vis non-uniform days. The highlight was when over 400 children turned up dressed in bright colours at one school! There were also lots of Dr Bike days and Bike Breakfasts, both of which are really popular at secondary schools, too. The end of autumn term saw the Giant Pumpkin Chase; a family bike ride and treasure hunt along the Bristol-Bath cycle path. It featured Dr Bikes, a giant pumpkin-headed cyclist, a pedal-powered soup blender and a spooky ride through a dark tunnel! Several lucky kids are also looking forward to new bikes after winning them in Bike It talent shows and my New Year's Resolution competition. Now the snow fun is over, we're back on our bikes and looking forward to a great 2010.

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Sam Pickard - Bike It officer

Sam PickardContact Sam:

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

Tel: 0117 915 0492, mobile 07500 833 132.  

Email: samantha.pickard@sustrans.org.uk

Sam returned to Sustrans in November 2008

"I'm delighted to be back as part of the Bike It team! I was a Bike It officer in Aylesbury for 15 months before leaving to relocate to Bristol. The project is a fantastic way of getting more children onto their bikes, to get healthier and to learn a new skill.

"I'm a passionate cyclist and go everywhere on my bike. I'm really excited to be part of the Bristol City of Cycling and am looking forward to helping them achieve their aim of doubling the number of cyclists in Bristol. It will be brilliant having a team of three other Bike it officers to work with!"

Amongst other things, Sam has worked in the South West as an environmental youth worker for BTCV and on tree-planting projects with the Woodland Trust.  She has a degree in environmental studies from Sussex University and has volunteered on various youth work projects.

Sam's schools for 2009/10:

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Ian Tsang - Bike It officer 

Ian TsangContact Ian:

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

Tel: 07787 434 281

Email: ian.tsang@sustrans.org.uk

Ian joined Sustrans in April 2009

“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:

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