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Bike It in Crawley

Alan Heaton – Bike It officer

Read Alan's latest news (pdf).

Contact Alan: Sustrans' Bike It officer, Crawley Wellbeing, K2 Crawley, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, RH11 9BQ

Tel: 0129 358 5355 Mob: 07584 281947 or email Alan

Alan started working with Sustrans as the Bike It officer for Conwy, North West Wales, in September 2010. In September 2011 he moved south to Crawley to launch Bike It in a new area.

Prior to working with Sustrans, Alan has been doing seasonal work in California at a traditional coed summer residential camp for children aged 7 to 15 in between studying a degree in Sustainable Development at Bangor University. He has held numerous positions over 7 summers which include; the Overnight Director, Waterfront & Programme Coordinator and has ran a number of successful Mountain Bike programmes – instructor-led MTB rides through breathtaking single-track trails in El Dorado National Forest. Before that, he had travelled and volunteered on humanitarian projects in South East Asia, Australasia and South America.

“I have always chosen to cycle and I love the independence, freedom, and relaxation it gives when it’s just me, my two wheels and the open road. For many years, and because of the life-style choices I’ve made, I’ve either had to borrow or share a bike. Thankfully many of my friends are in to road cycling and / or MTB riding and I have been able to use their equipment. Recently, I have settled down in the UK I am now delighted to be a proud owner of two wonderful bikes of my own. My dream is to one day cycle from Peru all the way down through Argentina to Cape Horn.”

Alan works 2.5 days a week, which are usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Alan's schools for 2011/12:

What's Alan up to?

Last term I’ve been seeing my schools organise some brilliant events which is great to see as they’ve really taken to the project and have already started making it their own. My Champion at Broadfield East Junior has started a Bike Loan Scheme and other schools are now looking to do the same. Also I’ve been running lots of fun and valuable events like; Dr Bike days, puncture repair workshops, and ‘London 2012’ themed playground skills sessions.

All 5 Bike It primaries took part in The Big Pedal competition spanning 15 school days in March. Amazingly teachers, parents and pupils made a total of 5,367 journeys to school by bike collectively pedalling over 16,000 miles in three weeks. It saved parents more than £2,500 (413 gallons) in unnecessary fuel costs and enough CO2 was saved to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool and some! A special mention goes out to the Oaks Primary School for being the fastest school in Crawley and who finished 20th in the South East, and came 209 nationally out of 1,194 schools who registered. This term I will be awarding a pretty wicked Big Pedal Trophy to The Oaks to say well done.

You may remember me launching a Banner Poster Competition back in December / January! Well I am happy to announce that the closing date has now passed and I’ve had over 500 fantastic entries. A shortlist has been selected and a panel of judges will decide on the winning designs on 23rd April – the mini Van Gogh’s, Picasso’s and Monet’s will be presented their cool prizes later this term.

This term pupils will have lots more reasons to get to school and beyond by pedal power! Pupils will be enjoying bike rides, sponsored cycle laps around the playground, more ‘bling’ your bike days and Bike Breakfasts, and going for Gold as a Sustrans Hero! I will also be busy recruiting up to 6 new schools for 2012/13. Here’s to busy term.

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