The Big Pedal
Schools across Cumbria are encouraged to sign up to take part in The Big Pedal 2018, run by Sustrans and supported by Cumbria County Council’s Active Travel team. The Big Pedal takes place between 23 April and 4 May this year.
The Big Pedal is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooting challenge and inspires pupils, staff and parents to choose two wheels for their journey to school. During last year’s event, over a million journeys were logged nationally by school pupils, staff and parents.
Schools compete on each day of the challenge to see who can record the greatest number of pupils, staff and parents cycling or scooting to school. Journeys are logged on the Big Pedal website and are ranked each day against other schools in Cumbria, the North West and the UK.
During last year’s Big Pedal, 52 schools in Cumbria logged 7,910 bike journeys, 9,396 trips by scooter, with supporting families logging 2,219 journeys – a fantastic achievement and a high target to aim for this year!
The first 35 schools to register for the Big Pedal 2018 will receive a pack of ‘I scooted to school’ and ‘I cycled to school’ stickers. We will also award a colourful scooter mini-pod to the winning small primary and large primary schools. Secondary schools are also invited to register.
Schools can register now at www.bigpedal.org.uk and click on Cumbria County Council as your local authority.
Walk To School Week
Walk to School Week 2018 takes place between 21 and 25 May. All infant, primary and junior schools across Cumbria are invited to apply for classroom resource packs from Cumbria County Council to help promote the event. 42 schools in Cumbria have already registered with the county council’s Active Travel team and the deadline for applications is Friday 16 February.
During the 2017 Walk to School Week, over 400,000 children took part across the UK, with more than 12,000 car journeys saved in Cumbria alone.
Judith Aris, Active Travel Officer at Cumbria County Council, said:
“The Big Pedal and Walk to School Week events are not only good for the environment, but travelling actively to school results in healthier and fitter children, and we hope they will carry this habit in to their teens and adulthood.
“This is a fantastic way to get children thinking about their physical health and wellbeing, and walking or cycling to school is a brilliant way to start!”
Infant and Junior schools wishing to apply before the deadline can contact [email protected]
