Guernsey Press

Blanchelande pupils see cycling to school benefits

SPARED the torrential rain of Sunday morning, children were more enthusiastic yesterday to take to two wheels for Cycle to School Week.

Published
Ready for a Bikeability training session at Blanchelande College in preparation for Cycle To School Week are, left to right, Amity Horton, Vivienne Barclay, Euan Webb, Louie Lowe and Louis Hargreaves. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 31331260)

Year 6 pupils from Blanchelande College said that bikes were better than cars for getting to school.

‘It’s better for the environment, it’s better for the students. It makes you active and gets your brain working,’ said 10-year-old Louis Hargreaves.

From this week, Bikeability instructors have started a new year of training in 10 primary schools. The instructors teach key cycling skills to children in Years 5 and 6, to encourage more of them to ride to and from school.

Instructor Frankie Middleton, was pleased to be back out teaching children. ‘We are giving them core skills so they can enjoy cycling with friends and family, and even start to incorporate it as a regular means of travelling to school,’ she said.

Colin Le Page, from Traffic & Highway Services, said that Bikeability training, formerly known as cycling proficiency, had been a great success in recent years.

‘The training not only inspires confidence in young people to cycle to school, which is a great way to be active and improve concentration in class, but it also provides them with a life skill that will benefit them into adulthood.’

Alex Costen, active travel officer at the Health Improvement Commission, is keen to work with schools and families to promote cycling, as well as walking, as part of daily life.

‘During Cycle to School Week we hope families and children make a pledge to swap even one or two journeys during the week, or perhaps to go out with their family at the weekend and discover somewhere new on a cycle ride. Cycling helps both our planet and our wellbeing. Learning to cycle is also an important life skill, which we hope children will continue to enjoy into adulthood.’

The commission has provided financial backing to enable a series of adult cycle skills courses, with the support of the Bikeability instructors.

‘These adult course are currently free, and tend to be in small groups, we are hoping they will give adults some extra confidence to start cycling as a regular means of getting around the island,’ said Mrs Costen.

. Anyone interested in taking an adult course should email bikeability@gov.gg to sign up.