Fashion Designer Inspires Schoolgirls to Cycle
The UK's leading sustainable transport charity Sustrans has joined forces with cycling fashion designer Amy Fleuriot from Cyclodelic and The Body Shop to give girls across Exeter expert advice on how best to feel and look good on a bike.
On Thursday 21st May, 16 students from West Exe Technology College took part in the award winning 'Beauty and the Bike' project. This will include a fashion and style workshop with Amy Fleuriot, who has recently designed a range of cycle fashion for a leading high street retailer. Pupils will also get free cycle training by Devon County Council's Bikeability instructors Amy O'Louglin and Sam Cann.
The 'Beauty and the Bike' scheme is part of the Sustrans Bike It project which is one of the UK's leading projects that encourages children and young people to choose two wheels instead of four for the journey to school.
Exeter's Bike It Officer Liz Kop said: "Many teenage girls just don't consider cycling. They worry a lot about their image and what they will look like on a bike and they think it's just for boys. 'Beauty and the Bike' works to overcome all these issues using a simple formula. We want to show them that not only is it possible to arrive by bike feeling and looking great, but also that cycling is a brilliant way to get around and to stay fit and healthy."
According to Sustrans' figures, boys on average cycle 138 miles a year and girls 24 miles, Sustrans want to address this imbalance. Today's event is part of a series of 'Beauty and the Bike' events for local secondary school girls to help overcome the negative images they have of cycling.
Cyclodelic designer Amy Fleuriot said: "It's great to work with girls so they can inspire others to cycle. Fashion and fitness make a fabulous combination."
The project is part of a bigger campaign being spearheaded by Sustrans to get more women cycling. A BMRB survey commissioned by Sustrans earlier this year showed that 79 per cent of women in Britain never cycle at all. Sustrans' campaign includes the brand new website www.bikebelles.org.uk offering advice and support to encourage women onto their bikes.
The Bike It project works with over 400 schools and over 80,000 children and young people across England and Wales. It works directly with pupils, parents and staff to help them overcome whatever it is that is preventing them from cycling to school - by organising cycle training, helping to install new bike sheds, contributing to classroom work and providing information about safe routes to schools. Liz Kop works with ten schools across Exeter. Bike It is a nationwide scheme, managed by sustainable transport charity Sustrans. Nationally the project is funded by Cycling England, and the cycle industry through the Bike Hub, locally Bike It is supported by Devon County Council. Staff, parents and teachers who are interested in promoting cycling and walking in their school are encouraged to call the Sustrans School Travel Team on 0117 915 0100 for free information and advice.
