New Cycle Parking at Southcote Primary School

Below is the press release for new cycling facilities at Southcote Primary School. Lisa Telling, the inspirational Headteacher at Southcote Primary is leading the way in giving local children the chance to cycle to school, thus cutting back on vehicular traffic that is a recurring problem at this and all other schools in Reading.


New Cycle Parking at Southcote Primary

30/01/2014
Reading Borough Council Press Release


Children at Southcote Primary are celebrating new cycling parking at their school as part of the Council’s on-going drive to encourage more cycling across Reading.


In the week when the name of ‘ReadyBike’ – Reading Borough Council’s new bike hire scheme - was launched, the Southcote school celebrated the installation of new cycle parking by holding a number of events supported by ‘Bike It’ officer, Ben Knowles, including a bikers breakfast and bike skills session for Key Stage 1. The school signed up to the Bike It programme in 2013 with more than 80 pupils cycling to school for the first event.


Both the new school cycle parking and the Bike It programme are being delivered as part of the Council’s £25 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF).


The Sustrans Bike It programme aims to transform the way that young people travel through fun activities which help children and parents learn the skills of cycling – bike maintenance, control skills and route selection. Nationally, 50% of children say they want to cycle to school, but only 2% do. Bike It helps to bridge this gap giving children independence, better health, and reducing congestion around the school gate.


Later this year schools across Reading will be encouraged to take part in the annual ‘Big Pedal’ inter-school cycling and scooting competition, organised by Sustrans. This year’s event is taking place between 3rd and 14th March.


Southcote Primary also offers Key Stage 2 pupils the opportunity to take part in the national cycle training programme, Bikeability. The training - which aims to provide trainees with the skills and confidence to cycle on-road - is subsidised by the Department for Transport. Reading Borough Council has secured funding to deliver 900 places by the end of March and hopes to secure additional funding to continue the training at a low-cost in future years.



Ben Knowles (‘Bike It Ben’ as he’s known by the kids) from Sustrans, said:


“Walking, scooting and cycling to school is a great way for our children to fit in the exercise they desperately need for their health into their daily routine. Research shows it allows them to become better students in the classroom, and we help to reduce congestion on the school run as well as promoting children’s independence. Let’s not forget it’s fun too! This bike shed will make cycling to school a more attractive option by providing secure storage, allowing more children to gain from the fantastic benefits of cycling.”


Tony Page, Reading Borough Council Lead Member for Transport, said:


“Southcote Primary is one of thirteen schools expanding across Reading. This new cycle parking will therefore not only help encourage current pupils to cycle to school but also those attending the school in future years. The Bike It project enables an increasing number of schools to promote cycling through events supported by champions within the school. This embeds skills and knowledge within the school community enabling them to continue the good work achieved to date beyond the Local Sustainable Transport Fund period.”


Lisa Telling, Southcote Primary Head Teacher, said:


“These new cycle shelters and the opportunity to get involved in Bike It have excited both children and parents. A large number of children are now arriving at school by bicycle as a result of the new shelters.”


Reading Borough Council’s LSTF funding pot is ‘ring-fenced.’ That means Council’s like Reading, who were successful in gaining the funding, can only spend it on delivering sustainable transport projects, rather than on any other Council projects or services.







ENDS