Reigate and Banstead pupils pedal to success
Schools in Reigate and Banstead have won a national virtual bike race by making more journeys than any other area in the country.
On Monday 1 March, 13 primary and two secondary schools from Reigate and Banstead began the gruelling, 5,224 mile bike challenge, competing against 100,000 children from 550 schools across the country.
The race, aimed at inspiring pupils, parents and teachers to get cycling on regular basis, saw the 15 schools in our area make a massive 15,500 journeys by bike in just 20 days.
Regional winners
Walton on the Hill Primary School came first in the South East regional category and will receive a visit from a group of professional BMX stunt riders and a £400 Bike Park Tools kit. Regional runners up, Kingswood Primary School, have won Nutcase bike helmets as their prize.
Organised by sustainable transport charity Sustrans, which is supported locally by the Borough Council, the race was coordinated on the ground by local Sustrans Bike It officer Gayle Rowson, who works with the individual schools across the borough.
Bike it
The Bike It project works with schools - pupils, parents and staff - to help them overcome whatever it is that is preventing them from cycling to school such as organising cycle training, helping to install new bike sheds, contributing to classroom work and providing information about safe routes to schools.
Participating schools have seen levels of cycling treble within a year – bucking the trend in declining numbers of children cycling to school.
For more information see the Sustrans website.
Last updated : 22/04/2010
