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Cardiff on track to triple number of children cycling to school

Issued on: Friday 27 November, 2009

Schools in Cardiff are hoping to follow the success of those in Conwy and Neath Port Talbot by tripling the number of children cycling to school.

Bike It, led by sustainable transport charity Sustrans, has already been operating in twenty-four schools across Conwy and Neath Port Talbot over the last year, and has had tremendous success, with the number of children regularly cycling to school rising from just 13 per cent before Bike It, to 39 per cent after.

Sustrans now hopes to achieve similar success across 12 Cardiff schools and will host a Cardiff event at Trelai Primary School in Ely on Monday 30 November to officially launch the project, with the schools' new Bike It Officer Tim Anfield, Councillor Delme Bowen, Cardiff Council's Executive Member for Traffic and Transportation, and PC Legge and Sergeant Tyler from South Wales Police.

Jane Lorimer, Sustrans Cymru Deputy Director, said: 'It's an exciting time for greener travel options in Cardiff. Now that the city is benefiting from Welsh Assembly Government Sustainable Travel City funding Bike It is just one of the incentives which will encourage people out of their cars and take us towards a healthier and more environmentally-friendly Wales.

'Our research in Neath and Conwy has shown that 57 per cent of children want to cycle to school, but nationally only 2 per cent actually do. We want to change that, and know that Bike It really works, so we are looking forward to bringing it to children in Cardiff and introducing them to all the benefits that cycling brings. '

Bike It has been brought to Cardiff schools thanks to funding from the Cardiff Sustainable Travel City project.

Councillor Delme Bowen, Executive member for Traffic and Transportation for Cardiff Council, said: "Bike It is a fantastic initiative which has been very successful across Wales. I hope we can see similar results in Cardiff and increase the numbers of children who cycle to school, which is better both for health and the environment."

Bike It works by helping pupils overcome whatever it is that is preventing them from cycling to school, by organising cycle training and bike maintenance sessions, helping to install new bike sheds, contributing to classroom work and providing information about safe routes to schools.

Bike It is delivered by Sustrans and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff Council and the cycle industry through the Bike Hub. Locally it is supported by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Conwy County Borough Council and Cardiff Council.