Get prepared for Bike to School week 21 to 25 April

In the ten years to 2005 the percentage of primary school children being driven to school rose from 29 to 41 per cent, despite the fact that one in three children said they would choose to cycle.

Cycling to school offers children an ideal opportunity to:

• learn road safety awareness and other life skills;
• become more confident;
• gain freedom and independence;
• get the daily exercise levels they need for a healthy, balanced lifestyle;
• fully wake up and arrive at school alert and raring to go.

Cycling offers one of the best forms of exercise that’s also fun. However, a major reason why more children do not cycle (or walk) to school is parents' concern for their safety.

Safe Cycling campaign, sponsored by Pom-Bear*
Pom-Bear recognises the many benefits for kids of cycling to school and is launching a safe cycling campaign from April to June to encourage kids to get on their bikes and teach them key cycling safety tips, so you can feel confident of their safety traveling to school.

Cycling safety tips [www.bikeability.org.uk]. Always make sure that your child:

• has a bike which is roadworthy – (encourage them to do the Bikeability cycling training scheme which includes learning how to check their bike);
• is seen – ensure they wear brightly coloured or reflective clothing;
• is not weighed down by heavy bags and rucksacks;
• wears a helmet that fits properly – the Department for Transport strongly recommends wearing a helmet at all times;
• plans their cycle route before they set off and makes use of cycle lanes where possible.

*Pom-Bear is a fun teddybear-shaped potato snack that children love and parents won’t mind them having. Each pack is made from the best quality potatoes and contains:

• no artificial colours or flavours;
• no artificial preservatives;
• now with 25 per cent less salt and  50 per cent less saturated fats.