Bike It in Merthyr Tydfil
Leon Burns - Bike It officer/Swyddog Bike It
Read Leon's latest news (english, pdf) (Cymraeg, pdf)
Contact: Road safety, Tŷ Keir Hardie, Riverside Court, Avenue De Clichy, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8XF
Telephone: 01685 726286 / or email Leon
Leon joined Sustrans in July 2011
“I started with Sustrans in July 2011 and am very excited to be bringing Bike It to Merthyr. It's early days but I’m looking forward to getting fun cycling activities happening across Merthyr’s schools and surrounding communities. Bike It has the capacity to really make an impact on people’s lives and changes habits that last a lifetime.”
Before joining Sustrans, Leon was a Bikeability instructor and the Welsh representative of a European wide project researching sport and social inclusion with youth. Before that he worked on projects promoting physical activity and health across Cardiff and Newport. He studied a BSc in Human Physiology at Liverpool University, and an MSc in Exercise and Health Science at Bristol University, as well as a 6 month course in Spanish in Malaga!
“As a young person I cycled everywhere and this gave me independence as well as having a lot of fun. Having a job which helps people experience something similar is really rewarding. As an adult I’ve cycled across Britain and Ireland as well as mountain biked to Machu Pichu, the lost city of the Incas!”
“I’m also a voluntary director of a charitable company, Recycle South Wales, which diverts bikes from the waste stream where volunteers carry out refurbishment of the bikes at workshops in Newport and Swansea.”
Leon's Schools for 2011/12
- Trelewis Primary School
- Ysgol Gymraeg Rhyd y Grug
- Caedraw Primary School
- St Mary’s RC Primary School
- Heolgerrig Community Primary School
- Ysgol y Graig Primary School
- Cyfarthfa Junior School
- Goetre Junior School
- St Illtyd’s RC Primary School
- Gellifaelog Primary School
- Pantysgallog Primary School
- Afon Taf High School
What's Leon up to?
Bike It started in Merthyr’s schools in September 2011, getting to know the schools, meeting heads and appointing Bike It Champions at 12 schools. The project was then able to successfully promote cycling with children through various practical activities.
Up to now the project has delivered:
- 3 Bike Smoothie making sessions,
- Trained 50+ children cycling skills
- Safety checked over 75 bikes
- Arranged two Bike Breakfasts with support from existing Breakfast clubs
- 11 intro assemblies with health, environmental and positive cycling messages
- Cycle safety sessions with 200+ children
- Supported the launch of Bike Club in Merthyr
- 4 cycling equipment sales
- Organised 6 poster competitions
- Promoted Sustrans’ ‘Winter competition’
- Helped open a Connect 2 Bridge at Pengarnddu Dowlais, with children from Pantysgallog School who cut the ribbon after a bike ride.
The challenge in the spring term is to capitalise on early progress and the improving weather to help the children and schools overcome the various barriers they face to increase cycling.
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