Education, Health & Lifestyle, Motoring & Transport | Posted on March 4th, 2024 | return to news
Increase in Dorset children cycling to school
Bike It Plus, which is funded by Dorset Council, reports an increase in children cycling to school in Dorset.
There has been an increase in Dorset children cycling to school according to a new report.
Bike It Plus, which is funded by Dorset Council and run by the charity Sustrans, has been working with schools across Dorset to help encourage more young people to walk, cycle or wheel to school.
In the past year, the project has supported over 36 schools to deliver fun and engaging activities that boost the skill levels of young people in walking, wheeling or cycling.
Activities have included learn to ride, cycle confidence and scooter skills sessions, as well as bike maintenance and repair workshops. Bike It Plus officers have also run community events, interactive school assemblies, competitions, and breakfasts to help tackle some of the barriers and challenges to active travel.
The sessions have proved to be very popular and last year were attended by over 15,000 children, staff and parents. As a result, over 470 children in the county have been supported to learn how to ride a bike or improve their cycling skills. According to the project, this has led to an increase in the number of children now travelling to school by active means.
The team recently surveyed schools supported through the project and over 65 per cent of respondents said they had seen a rise in the number of pupils now using an active mode of transport to get to school.
One school in the east of the county reported an increase of nearly 20 per cent in active travel following support from the Bike It Plus project, with 75 per cent of their pupils now walking, wheeling or cycling to school.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “I’m thrilled to hear the Bike It Plus project is having such a positive impact on school communities in Dorset.
“By improving cycling and road safety skills, the project has not only provided children with valuable life skills but has also helped families change how they travel to school.
“Swapping short journeys in the car for more active travel like walking, cycling or wheeling has proven benefits for our health and wellbeing, our pockets and our climate. More active travel can also mean quieter and safer roads in our county, especially at school drop off and pick up.”
Bike It Plus has also helped schools to promote active travel in their communities and access local funding to improve walking and cycling facilities at their sites.
The Bike It Plus project is currently set to run until August 2024. For more information on cycling and walking to school, including how to access training courses, advice and bike buying guides, visit the Dorset Council website.
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