A scheme to encourage children and young people to take up cycling and promote Active Travel, will see 660 bikes delivered to schools across the city by the end of the month.
The School’s Bike Fleet scheme provides schools with a fleet of bikes for pupils to use in school for the delivery of cycle training.
Funded by Welsh Government, the scheme is a partnership project between Cardiff Council, Welsh Cycling and British Cycling.
Cllr Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: “The Schools Bike Scheme will aim to increase the number of children taking part in cycling by embedding it into school’s curriculum.
“Being able to cycle safely and confidently is a life skill and promotes active travel in children and young people. This change of behavior will have a positive impact their lives and their futures, including improving physical and emotional wellbeing as well as reducing emissions for a greener environment to live in.
“This is one of many projects to help the city transform its public transport system, promote more forms of Active Travel and importantly, respond to the climate emergency as set out in Cardiff’s Capital Ambition.”
Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: “This project provides a host of positive benefits for children and young people here in Cardiff including the opportunity to engage in cycling – maybe for the first time – as well as the support and training necessary to help children develop a new skill which they will carry into adulthood.
“We know the importance of physical activity and the contributions it makes to promoting positive mental and physical health. By providing children and young people with opportunities like this, further supports Cardiff’s ambition to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City, helping to make Cardiff a fantastic city to grow up in.”
Welsh Cycling Development Officer, Dan Coast said: “It’s great to see so many schools and the city’s young people so keen to be involved in this cycling programme. This programme is just one element of the work Welsh Cycling has done in partnership with Cardiff Council to help support a modal change in our transport habits and whilst also providing a great initial introduction to the sport of cycling to hopefully unearth some more cycling champions like Elinor Barker & Geraint Thomas.”
The first phase of the scheme will be completed by the end of October 2020 and will mean that 32 bike fleets have been delivered to both primary and secondary schools across Cardiff.
Schools can now apply to be included in phase two of the scheme which will see at least another 32 bike fleets delivered to Cardiff Schools.
Each primary school receives 20 pupil bikes, helmets, a 10ft recycled shipping container kitted out with secure storage, tool kit and pump, National Standard Cycle Training resources and lesson plans created by Cardiff Council’s Road Safety Team, to support the school in incorporating cycling into their curriculum and free school club affiliation as part of Welsh Cycling’s HSBC UK Go-Ride Programme.
Secondary schools receive 30 pupil bikes, 2 teacher bikes, helmets, a 20ft recycled shipping container kitted out with secure storage, tool kit and pump, National Standard Cycle Training and lesson plans created by Cardiff Council’s Road Safety Team and Free School Club Affiliation: Part of Welsh Cycling’s HSBC UK Go-Ride Programme.
Schools are also provided with support from Cardiff Council’s Active Travel Team to create a bespoke Active Travel Plan for their school.
