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Schwalbe has partnered with Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel to encourage more families to travel to school actively.
The bicycle tyre manufacturer said it is focusing is on supporting everyday cycling, starting with the next generation. Recent research has revealed a generation gap of children taking up cycling – in 2019, only 4% of children cycled to school even though half of them would have chosen cycling to school over other modes of transport.
Together with Sustrans, Schwalbe said it wants to promote the benefits of active travel for children.
Dave Taylor, managing director at Schwalbe Tyres UK Ltd., said: “We’ve thought about what we really want to achieve in the next five to seven years – what would be our legacy from the post-pandemic cycling boom – could we achieve something more meaningful than a spike in sales?
“We have a responsibility to try to not only preserve the work that has already been done by the likes of Sustrans and others in promoting cycle participation, but also to prolong the increase in cycle participation that came about as a result of the pandemic.”
By supporting the Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel, Schwalbe hopes to increase cycle participation amongst children. “We have a wider social responsibility to promote Active Travel and work with likeminded partners like Sustrans in doing so,” continued Taylor.
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Xavier Brice, CEO at Sustrans, said: “The Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is an opportunity for parents to embrace an active school run and for schools to demonstrate the many benefits of leaving the car at home for short journeys.
“We all know that we need to use our cars less, and this event is the perfect chance to try that out, have a happier and healthier school run and hopefully make a lasting change.”
The Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is the UK’s largest inter-school walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling challenge. It aims to inspire hundreds of thousands of pupils to get active on the school run. This year’s challenge will take place from 21st March to 1st April.
