Let’s get Moving

• May. 31 by Claire Latham (0)

The ‘Bikeability’ Scheme

Last week ‘Bikeability’ rolled out fully across Birmingham to help equip children with the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today’s busy roads.

Birmingham City Council and Solihull Council are both involved in pushing this initiative and getting schools involved in providing this scheme to all secondary schools.

Eileen Brown, Head teacher at Hodge Hill Girls School said,

“We had to put a bid in to take part in the ‘Bikeabilty’ scheme, it has been well worth the time and effort the school has put in, and the children have really embraced and enjoyed the scheme so far”

What is it?

The scheme is a reformed cycling proficiency test designed for the 21^st century. As well as teaching children safety and observation skills, the scheme is also designed to encourage the use of bikes as an alternative method of transport.

‘Bikeability’ is intended as a fun challenge, split into three levels, children are always working towards their next goal, and this then gives them the motivation to sustain what they have learned.

Secondary schools have to prove they have secure storage for bicycles to take part in the scheme. Depending on the school or the local authority involved.

Walk to School Week

Bikeability follows ‘Walk to School Week’ which finished last Friday. The week is in place to encourage parents and children to think about their journey to school and how they make it. ‘Walk to School Week’ is designed for primary schools, but ‘Step Up’ is the secondary school equivalent which also runs within the same week in May.

‘Walk to School Week’ and ‘Step Up’ are both organised and funded by the Living Streets organisation.

Cllr David Sparks, the Local Government Association spokesman on transport, said:

“Encouraging parents to walk their children to school, where it is possible, makes perfect sense. It means children are more savvy about road safety, it keeps them fit at a time when obestiy has reached record levels and it means less traffic congestion within school zones at drop off and pick up tomes. At a time when petrol prices are soaring, it will also save parents money..”

Statistics

 50% of children don’t walk to school regularly this in turn is contributing to increased childhood obesity and reduced physical activity as well as urban congestion and air pollution.

Cars consume most fuel and pollute more at the start of their journey when the engine is cold, therefore, cycling or walking for short journeys, especially to school, will help reduce the amount of CO2 emissions by a disproportionate amount.

More statistics can be found here.

Visit here for a frequently updated map of participating ‘Bikeability’ schools and organisations.