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Two local cycling initiatives have been completed by Sustrans- backed schemes this month.
Schoolchildren took part in a Sustrans-funded £250,000 scheme for improving cycling and walking facilities in Melton Country Park, Leicestershire. Local children from Brownlow Primary School named a landmark on the National Cycle Route 64 – Troll Bridge – while a child from neighbouring John Ferneley High School designed the bridge’s eye-catching sign.
Dr Kevin Feltham, County Council Cabinet Support Member for Highways and Transportation enthused: “We hope that the new and improved paths will open up the park to people who haven’t used it before, and encourage people to make more journeys by bike or by foot, particularly children travelling to and from school.”
Meanwhile Sustrans’ Bike It project ran a ‘Bike to School Day’ which saw 320 participants and an average of 53 pupils cycling to school. Each child that cycled to school earned a raffle ticket for a prize draw to win a bike.
The lucky winner was Alix Sandford from St Gerard’s Roman Catholic School – who chose her own bike courtesy of the Sustrans Bike It project.
The Sustrans-run Bike It nationwide scheme is co-funded by the bike industry via the Bike Hub levy. Bike It officers get more children cycling to school.
Schools participating in the scheme nationally have seen a three-fold increase in the number of children cycling to school.
