Bike Week in Motion at Leicestershire Schools

Maintenance sessions, security 'post-coding' and an inter-schools cycling competition are just some of events Leicestershire schools are holding to celebrate Bike Week.

The County Council’s Travel Choice and Access Team is working with schools throughout Bike Week, the national cycling awareness week, running between 19th and 27th June. Its aims are to show how cycling can easily be a part of everyday life.

In Wigston, officers are working with local police to promote cycling within primary schools that feed into Abington High School. Local PCSOs will provide free ‘post coding’ of bikes to children who cycle to school, and all are having a ‘Dr Bike’ maintenance session, checking their bikes are safe to ride, and learning some basic cycle maintenance.

On Monday, six primary schools will compete in an inter-schools bike skills competition at Brookvale High School, with a trophy presentation to the winning team by Peter Osborne, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council.

St Luke’s Primary in Thurnby pupils are reviewing their school travel plan, and performing traffic counts on Tuesday outside the school.

Wednesday will see students of Garendon High School joining pupils from other Loughborough schools to mark improvements to local cycle routes.

On Thursday, children at Dorothy Goodman School in Hinckley will also have a Dr Bike Maintenance session.

Lesley Pendleton, County Council Cabinet Member for environment and transport, said: “There are lots of children and young people already cycling to school across Leicestershire but we want to encourage more to give it a try.

"These Bike Week events give children a chance to check their bikes are safe, learn about security form local PCSOs and put their cycling skills to the test in a fun competition.

"Cycling not only helps to reduce the number of cars at the school gate but offers real health benfits too.”

To see pictures of Bike Week events, and find cycle routes and events in your area, visit www.leics.gov.uk/cycling .