Walk to School
Family Walk to School Kit
Next Steps to Secondary
The Guardian July 2019 - "It's a superpower": how walking makes us healthier, happier and brainier
Active Travel: The Evidence
Imperial College News, February 2021, Ditching the car for walking or biking just one day a week cuts carbon footprint
BBC Podcast - 8 reasons why we should all walk more
University of Cambridge 2019 - Twenty times more English children could cycle to school with better transport planning
NICE 2019 - Physical activity: encouraging activity in the community
Living Streets : 2018 Report on Active Children, Healthy Air & Safe Streets
NICE 2018 : Physical Activity & the Environment
The Guardian August 2017 : Why children who exercise become healthier adults
Public Health England 2016 : Working Together to Promote Active Travel
Active Travel: The Barriers
Learning to ride a bike for complete beginners
The key is to practise scooting and balancing before attempting to pedal at the same time. Once happy on two wheels there are lots of fun games to develop bike handling skills; cycling around small obstacles or braking on a line can teach useful techniques, and 'high fiving' or waving gets children ready for signalling.
Research your route:
Please refer to our Route planning map
The whole road network is open to you on a bike, but you can also seek out car-free parks and paths. When planning your journey to school, you might want to try a few different routes during the holidays. Sometimes it makes sense to go the long way round to avoid a nasty junction, a difficult right turn or a busy bus route, or just to choose a calmer stress free route like Marylene's family does. If it means less stopping and starting, a quiet route could be quicker and easier as well as providing the perfect setting for quality time on the school run.
Free training for cycling on the roads:
Protective Cycling - cycling with children as they learn the roads:
Once children have achieved their 'Bikeability' it's the perfect time for them to practise simple journeys on quiet roads. When you first bike together on local streets it's a good idea to cycle behind and slightly to the right so you can see your child and the road, and prevent anyone overtaking too close. By following rather than leading, you encourage the child to assess the risks and gain valuable experience for when they're ready to tackle the journey on their own. Here's a short film of one dad's school run. Ali and his seven year old take a clearly visible position and cycle in a smooth line away from the gutter and from parked cars.
Choosing a bike:
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| Picture from @classicretro |
If you need to carry toddlers or a tuba you might want something more unusual. You can trial cargo bikes, trikes and tandems by hiring at London Recumbents in Dulwich Park (like the triple Angus used for his school run). For those with a specific disability, Wheels for Wellbeing has a selection of side-by-sides and wheelchair bikes like Isabelle's to try.
But they have so much stuff!
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- When there's a lot to carry, a rack and panniers transform the journey to school making it easy on the shoulders and allowing real independence.
- Panniers like these have the added benefit of being completely waterproof (no more soggy homework),
- They help keep your child visible and we hope they remind drivers to give plenty of room when overtaking too.
- These particular panniers cope with heavy books and sports kit and are often seen with a hockey stick and a trombone poking out the top.
Simple bike maintenance:
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Charter Y10s learn bike maintenance
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Getting into the habit of performing some simple bike checks - like keeping tyres pumped up and checking brakes regularly - will make your child's cycling easier and safer. Local bike shops can fix or service your bike and some will even come to you at home.
