Currently, only two per cent of school children aged six to 15 cycles to school, while a further 14 per cent would like to.
A UK-wide YouGov survey, commissioned by one of the organisers of Bike to School Week, Sustrans, asked 1,305 children about their views of their journey to and from school.
It found that 57 per cent thought the environment around their school had too many cars and 49 per cent said they were worried about air pollution near their school.
Bike to School Week is a week-long event in which schools encourage families to cycle or scoot to school. It is often used to celebrate cycling and the positive impact active travel has on children’s health and wellbeing, as well as the environment.
It is organised by charities Sustrans and the Bikeability Trust, and there are a range of resources available to help schools, including:
- Materials to communicate with families, including posters, e-flyers and a downloadable family guide.
- Free curriculum-based resources for early years through to key stage 3.
- A guide and video with simple practices to check a bike is safe to ride.
- A get active resource with activities to help improve your pupils’ bike and scooter skills.
All families that pledge online to take part in the week will also be entered for a prize draw to win a Frog bike.
Meanwhile, more than £1m is now available for pilot projects to help children and teenagers learn how to cycle.
The Department for Transport has released the funding to the Bikeability Trust, which is invited bids from “creative and innovative” projects that give children the opportunity to learn how to cycle and to gain confidence in cycling.
Bids are being accepted until 5pm on October 29.