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Bike It in Gateshead and South Tyneside

Alan Barlow - Bike It in Gateshead and South Tyneside 

Contact Alan: Bike It Officer, Sustrans, Cross House, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4XX

Tel: 0191 261 6160, 07818 683 715 or email: alan.barlow@sustrans.org.uk

Alan joined Sustrans in June 2008

"Working as a Bike It Officer is my dream job and I'm still having to pinch myself to make sure it's not a dream. I love cycling so much as it's got never-ending benefits for society, including health, sport and the environment. Working with the children to try and get them to get out on their bikes and get the same satisfaction and health benefits that I enjoy from cycling is a great opportunity.

I first started to cycle in 2005 to try and reduce my carbon footprint and soon became addicted to cycling. I achieved my aim of using the car less and began commuting to work everyday which made me feel much more energised at work and more relaxed by the time I got home. I now race my bike regularly and have come to love the sport of cycling.

There are so many facets to cycling and so many different opportunities for our children to get involved in an activity that they enjoy. Seeing the faces of the school children when they get on their bikes and seeing their sense of freedom is great!  Hopefully I can help more children enjoy cycling and help them realise that it's great fun, good for them and good for the environment."

Alan's Schools for 2010/11:

• Fell Dyke Community Primary
• Hebburn Comprehensive
• Highfield Community Primary
• Larkspur Community Primary
• Laygate School
• Lord Lawson of Beamish Community
• Marsden Primary
• Ravensworth Terrace Primary
• Rowlands Gill Community Primary
• St Joseph's RCVA Primary
• St Matthew's RCVA Primary
• Temple Park Juniors
• Toner Avenue Primary
• Valley View Primary
• Windy Nook Primary
• Winlaton West Lane Community Primary

What's Alan up to?

The 2011 spring term was hugely successful in Gateshead and South Tyneside with a number of activities taking part across the region. The schools have been taking part in the Big Pedal cycle to school incentive race. We have had two schools finish in the top 10 in the country (out of over 800 schools!) and five schools in the top 60. In the last weeks of the term leading up to Easter, Sustrans Bike It worked with 6,000 children across the region, showing the huge potential to reach people in the Gateshead and South Tyneside areas.

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