Bike It PLUS (2011-2016)
Bike It Plus promoted active travel to school through fun, practical, educational activities and events. The project was run by Sustrans in partnership with Public Health at Wiltshire Council and the Wiltshire Healthy Schools programme.
Bike It Plus in Wiltshire
Jo Collett was the Bike It Plus officer working with schools in Trowbridge, Chippenham, Warminster, Melksham and Devizes. Robin Imeson was the Bike It Plus officer working with schools in Salisbury. The project encouraged school communities to be more active on the school run by walking, cycling or scooting.
A programme of events and activities was offered, tailored to the requirements of each school. Programmes could include addressing parental and school concerns about safety, organising practical activities to improve confidence such as ‘bling your bike’, bike maintenance workshops, mass participation events, cycle and scooter training.
Since Bike It Plus began in Wiltshire, regular cycling to school has increased by 11% and levels of regular scooting and skating to school increased by 16%. The number of pupils regularly being driven to school has decreased by nearly 10%.
Mother and son cycling to Hilpertom Primary School.
More information about Bike It Plus in Wiltshire was provided on the Information sheet or the sheet for Salisbury schools.
The latest Bike It Plus newsletters are here
To see the school resources which can be used to encourage active travel without a Bike It Plus officer go to: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-services/who-we-work/teachers
Wheelie Wednesdays
Eco Warriors, Tao and Sammy, of Frogwell Primary School in Chippenham have been running ‘Wheelie Wednesdays’ since becoming a Bike It Plus school. Pupils are encouraged to use their bikes and scooters (and feet!) each Wednesday. Active travellers are all given a raffle ticket to be entered into a prize draw at the end of each term.
The Big Pedal
Each year Sustrans runs The Big Pedal which is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooting challenge. In 2015 it was launched by Sharron Davis to national media at Queens Crescent Primary School, Chippenham. Follow the link to find out all about it and how you can take part: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-services/who-we-work/teachers/big-pedal
Who are Sustrans?
Sustrans is the UK's leading sustainable transport charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys we make every day. We work with families, communities, policy-makers and partner organisations so that people are able to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, with better places and spaces to move through and live in (http://www.sustrans.org.uk/). Sustrans works with over 1,400 schools across the UK to encourage children to cycle to school. Schools working with the charity typically see the number of children cycling to school every day at least double in the first year.
