Bike It in Reigate and Banstead
Gayle Rowson - Bike It Officer for Reigate & Banstead
Contact Gayle: Bike It officer, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Earlswood Depot, Horley Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 6PN
Tel: 07876 236121 or email: gayle.rowson@sustrans.org.uk
Gayle joined Sustrans in May 2007
"In my experience, very little is as rewarding as working with children. Being a Bike It Officer is a great way to share my passion for the outdoors with children and show them how much fun biking can be, whilst promoting sport, a healthy lifestyle, and sustainable transport. No job could be more in line with my own values! Being able to cycle is a great skill to have: it encourages children to be independent, resourceful and explorers! Watch my short film about Bike It on YouTube, to see how local bike shops are supporting the project."
Before joining Sustrans I worked in schools teaching PE and tutoring children with special needs and behavioural problems, and coached sport for council-run holiday schemes. I have worked 3 ski seasons and travelled in Canada, New Zealand, South East Asia and America. Mountain biking is my latest passion - I'm always looking for new challenges and am often found riding into the unknown."
Gayle's Schools for 2009/10:
- Banstead Community Juniors
- Kingswood Primary
- Manorfield Primary and Nursery
- Merstham Primary
- Reigate Secondary
- Sandcross Juniors
- Shawley Community Primary
- St. Anne's Catholic Primary
- Tadworth Primary
- The Beacon School(Secondary)
- Walton-on-the-Hill Primary
- Warren Mead Community Junior
- Yattendon Primary
What's Gayle up to?
My new schools have made a great start and are well under way with the awareness and empowerment stages of the project. We've had family breakfasts and grand openings of brand new cycle storage, cycle to school days with Dr. Bike and ‘Brighten Yourself Up' days to raise awareness of the importance of being seen on your bike. We had a lovely family bike ride for 50 people over Banstead Downs and came back to school for tea and cake. To increase cycling to school in November and December, three schools took part in a ‘Cycle to Santa' challenge over two to five weeks. Some schools achieved a fantastic 500 journeys by bike over this period and celebrated with a raffle and a Christmas ‘Bling Your Bike' competition.
We held a superb Bike Day during 'Healthy Week' at a secondary school in October, which meant Year 7 and 8 pupils had a chance to have free mountain bike sessions, to try out specialist bikes and to make their own smoothies using a bike powered smoothie maker.