I Bike is an innovative school project encouraging pupils to walk, wheel and cycle to school. By empowering children, parents and teachers to travel actively, safely and confidently to school, I Bike encourages exercise and reduces traffic congestion, resulting in safer, happier and healthier communities.
I Bike engages with children and young people experiencing barriers to cycling participation, including addressing the drop in cycling from primary to secondary school, and the gender gap in rates of cycling between boys and girls.
I Bike activities
Established in 2009, I Bike has a team of 7 schools officers and around 60 volunteers across seven local authority areas in Scotland.
Each work intensively with a cluster of primary schools and the feeder high school each year to deliver:
- active travel breakfasts
- assemblies
- smoothie bike sessions
- route mapping sessions
- providing support to the school bike crew
- learn to cycle sessions
- bike skills sessions
- led rides
- led walks
- bike clubs
- bike maintenance sessions
- training teachers and providing support to the school bike crew.
Outcomes of the I Bike project
Our work complements initiatives such as Active Schools and the delivery of school travel plans.
We deliver health and transport outcomes by helping schools to improve physical activity levels and manage traffic issues around the school gates.
Our research has found that young people attending schools involved with I Bike or similar behaviour change interventions are walking, wheeling, scootering and cycling more than national averages.
The same research also revealed that if all Scottish primary schools were able to access multiple interventions, an additional 18,000 pupils could be travelling actively to school every day.
I Bike Volunteers
Volunteers are a vital part of the I Bike programme, helping to deliver the various activities and create a culture of walking, scooting and cycling in the schools. We hear from three I Bike volunteers about how they got involved, what they do and why they volunteer.
I Bike locations
We currently deliver I Bike in:
- Aberdeen City
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Edinburgh
- Perth and Kinross
- West Lothian
- East Lothian
- Scottish Borders
I Bike is funded by SEStran, SWestrans, Aberdeen City Council, Perth and Kinross Council and The Gannochy Trust.
