Bike It in Stoke-on-Trent
Stephen Dyster, Bike It officer
Contact Stephen: Bike It officer, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, PO box 630, Regeneration, Floor 3, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1RF
Mobile: 07824 398860 or email: stephen.dyster@sustrans.org.uk
Stephen joined Sustrans in June 2009
To have an opportunity to work for a better future for young people has appealed to me more and more urgently since the birth of my son. I've a career background in teaching and education, secondary schools; editing and writing guidebooks. After being a house-husband and full-time Dad, it is hard to think of a better way to start a new career, or a more important cause. There aren't many areas of the British Isles where I haven't cycled. In all I've found that the bicycle is a passport to meeting all sorts of kind and friendly people: true of trips in Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and others, too. What a fantastic way to bring people of all social backgrounds together. To pass on some of this to young people and their parents and to learn from working with them is a privilege: like teaching but without the National Curriculum or reports. In the long run I would like to see cycling as much a part of everyday life as it is in lovely flat Flanders or mountainous Switzerland. Don't mind a good walk either.
Stephen's schools for 2011/12:
- Burnwood school
- Christ Church school
- Eaton Park school
- Goldenhill school
- Hillside school
- Hollywall school
- Maple Court school
- Milton school
- Our Lady and Saint Benedict school
- Our Lady's school
- Packmoor school
- Saint George and Saint Martin's RC school
- Saint Maria Goretti RC school
- Saint Matthew's CE school
- Weston Coyney Junior school
- Abbey Hulton schol
- Ball Green school
- Berry Hill High School and Sports College
- Moorpark Junior school
- Newford school
- Norton school
- Priory school
- Saint John's CE school
- Saint Mary's CE school
- Saint Peter's RC school
- Saint Wilfred's RC school
- Sneyd Green school
- St. Mary's RC school
What's Stephen up to?
The big message at spring's Bike It Action Day was that schools throughout Stoke are really inspiring children and their parents to make a real difference to their communities by choosing healthy and sustainable ways to travel to school. More of my time has been spent helping them run their own schemes and activities. An audit at the Action Day showed that much could be achieved through partnerships; between schools; with the Stoke on Trent City Council; Cycle Stoke; clubs like Kidsgrove Wheelers; and local retailers. It is especially good to see new champions coming through in schools and schools working together to support cycling activities for their pupils.