Inspired use of Riderz stunt cycle team to get kids wheeling

In an utterly inspired initiative to get kids fired up to cycle to school (but not like this), Cycling Scotland’s Cycle to School campaign brought the Riderz stunt team to Lochgilphead Joint Campus yesterday (21 June 2011).

You have only to look at the photograph below of the ecstatic fanbase at the end of the show to see just what an impact this event has had. (And we noticed that teachers in the audience looking interested in limbering up as well. This could get competitive.)

Riderz put on a show of spins, jumps and tricks, wowing everyone and  showing that cycling is the coolest way to get to school. After , it would be hard to whip up a cooler image. In another incarnation….

With children across Argyll & Bute gearing up to cycle to school over the summer months, Cycling Scotland is urging drivers to give children the space and time they need to cycle safely to school.

This is crucial.

Car drivers are hardly  noted for their understanding of just how much space a cyclist needs – or a rider on horseback either, come to think of it.

The Give Me Cycle Space campaign aims to break down the biggest barrier to kids riding their bikes to school – parents’ fear of busy roads – by making motorists more aware and considerate of child cyclists. (Is that a teacher in a suicide mission in the photograph above? Respect.)

The campaign will be centred around local schools to promote ‘Cycle Friendly Zones’ – areas where drivers are asked to give children as much space as possible so they can make an easy and safe journey by bike. The six week campaign will include outdoor advertising, advertising on local radio and leafleting to parents.

Coordinated by Cycling Scotland, the Give Me Cycle Space campaign will take place in seven areas of Scotland, one of which is Argyll, with Glasgow, Inverclyde, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Perth & Kinross and East Renfrewshire. It hopes to encourage more children to get on their bikes for a healthier, fitter lifestyle.

Speaking at the event ,Spokesperson for Transport and Infrastructure Councillor Duncan MacIntyre said: ‘I am delighted that the pilot of the Give Me Cycle Space scheme took place at Lochgilphead Joint Campus.  The school has been very supportive of this initiative and built it into their programme to celebrate National Bike Week. The young people have had a wonderful time watching the Riderz team and we hope that we can offer the campaign in other areas of Argyll and Bute in future years.’

All primary schools in Argyll and Bute take part in cycle training – including, thanks to the successive collapse of the council administration’s  two attempts to close a total of 25 of them, they are part of the 94% of schools training on the road rather than in the playground.

Ironically, Councillor Duncan McIntyre was one of the councillors most determined to succeed in closing the 25 rural schools. But that’s local politics – Janus faced.

Teachers and parent volunteers are ensuring children have the appropriate skills and confidence to make the journey to and from school by bike.

Cycling Scotland Chief Executive Ian Aitken said: ‘The Give Me Cycle Space campaign achieved incredible results last year, contributing to huge increases in the number of children cycling in the schools we targeted. For example, some areas including East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire, saw the number of children cycling to school double.

‘I think the mixture of strong communication to drivers, supported by children getting their cycle training really gives parents the confidence to let their kids start using bikes to get to school.’

Schools in Scotland are being encouraged to provide Bikeability Scotland training to help children learn skills on the road, in a real-life cycling environment. The training teaches children key skills such as manoeuvring, checking for danger and carrying out risk assessments effectively.

Scottish Government funding is also allowing more and more cycle paths to be developed.

The provision of bike sheds (the collective memory awakens…) in schools and of 20 mph zones around schools, have together also helped to ensure both the safety of children cycling to school and the security of their bikes.

Schools can also be rewarded for their commitment to cycling under the Cycle Friendly Schools Award scheme. This recognises schools that provide good facilities, incentives and promotion for children cycling to school.

There are currently 89 schools that have been awarded Cycle Friendly School Awards. This equates to some 22,552 pupils, in 24 local authorities.

Find out more about the scheme here – and eat your heart out that you didn’t see Riderz light up Lochgilphead Joint Campus.