What’s stopping kids biking to school?
Cycle training at Colman Junior
Just 5 percent of pupils in south Norwich bike to school. This shockingly low figure raises the question- is it clucky parents or are there ligitamate concerns about traffic? Millions has been spent making journeys to school safer, but will the money make any difference?
This week’s “Bike to School” initiative emphasises the benefits of cycling. Research shows it improves pupils’ academic performance. Pupils who cycle are “not only fitter and healthier, they are also more confident, independent – and brainier too”, according to the county council literature. Photo opportunities were arranged; bikes checked; challenges set. But can more parents be persuaded to let their children to bike to school?
This year six local schools have drawn up travel maps, which suggest short cuts and cycle paths pupils can use. They show safe places to cross, and encourage parents to point out potential dangers. They stress how important it is to allow children to become independent, letting them make their own way to school.
Many parents worry the roads aren’t safe for cyclists. They don’t trust the drivers they’ve seen mount pavements or speed down the road. Mark Ogden, one of the council’s Travel Plan officers, admits it’s a problem: “It’s very difficult, however much we do. These new maps show the easiest routes to use and, depending on the school, usually there’s a route which has less traffic.”
Cycle training is offered in many schools in years 4 and 5, promoting safe, confident cyclists.
The success of this week’s “Bike to School week” will be measured in the county council’s annual cycling figures. They recently announced a scheme to give free bikes to school children who live further than 3 miles from school. And money has been invested in improving safety around schools. Adrian Gunson, Cabinet member for Planning and Transportation, said: “We have since 2001 spent over £5.4 million on 132 Safer and Healthier Journeys to School schemes, including footways, cycleways and crossings. Over the same period a further £37 million has been spent on around 500 walking, cycling and road crossing schemes for the wider community.”
So at what point will these millions spent across Norfolk make a difference? For me, the answer lies in numbers. While such a small minority opt for bikes, nothing will change. It’s a view shared by Norwich Cycling Campaign. If enough parents let their children bike to school, attitudes could change. If cycling grows, the sheer weight of numbers would force drivers to avoid schools before 9 or around 3 o’clock, or to slow down, making the roads safer for kids. Chair, Michael Dale said: “The more children who cycle, the safer the roads will be.”
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