Southport schools celebrate cycling success

Sefton schools celebrate cycling success

Sefton schools joined a celebration of their cycling achievements as part of an event organised by Sustrans and Sefton Council.

Around 70 children and teachers gathered at the Ramada Hotel in Southport to learn about work across the region which helps more children cycle to school and Sustrans Schools officer for Sefton Amanda Dufresne presented the schools with certificates in recognition of the children’s efforts. All the schools are working towards, or have achieved, a Gold, Silver or Bronze School Mark award from Sustrans for work to get more children active on their regular commute.

Children and teachers refuelled on afternoon tea and were inspired by cycling successes around the region.  Freshfield school showcased its project to train their youngest reception age children to ride balance bikes and progress to pedal independently, which encourages a culture of cycling to school by older children too.

Shoreside Primary presented its work to embed cycling to school within its culture through a range of activities and events. Last year Sustrans awarded the school a much-coveted Gold Award for its efforts to get more children cycling and walking to school, and the school won a regional award in the annual Sustrans Big Pedal challenge.

Southport Cycling Club, which is open to people of all ages and abilities showed an inspiring video about their youngest members racing in the 2016 Dolan races.

Sustrans works with over 40 schools in Sefton to encourage more cycling and walking to school. Around 17% of children always cycle to school in Sefton and 51% sometimes cycle, compared to just 2.78% of children who cycled in Sefton in 2007 before the Sustrans project.

Amanda Dufresne, Sustrans Schools Officer in Sefton said: “Sefton schools have worked really hard to boost the numbers of children cycling to school over the last few years and they have achieved some fantastic results. I’m sure we will see some more winners this year for our annual Sustrans Big Pedal competition when children compete to get the most number of journeys cycled or scooted to school. Please sign up now to join the challenge!”

The annual Big Pedal competition runs from 20-31 March. Look up www.bigpedal.org.uk

For Sustrans information please look up www.sustrans.org.uk