Conwy children encouraged to use pedal power to get to school

Pupils at two schools in Conwy are being encouraged to take to their bikes to get to and from school through a series of cycle skills days organised by the sustainable transport charity, Sustrans through its Bike It initiative.

The events, which are being held at Ysgol Glan Morfa in Abergele and Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd in Llandudno are being organised by Sustrans’ Bike It Officer, Gwen
Thomas, and promise to “mix colourful bike events and competitions with
cycle safety and training sessions.”

She will be accompanied by a Police Community Support Officer, who will help safety code bicycles, as well as Sustrans’ volunteer ranger Graham Harper to ensure that as many children as possible receive cycle training.

Currently, around five children at Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd use a bike or scooter to get to school, but on days when Bike It events are held, and in the subsequent days, this number increases fourfold to 20 children.

Ms Thomas said: “A whole new generation of kids are now cycling confidently to
school – easing the morning traffic and making the roads near our schools that
little bit safer. Cycle skills sessions help prepare pupils for their cycle training,
which is provided by the council, or it refreshes what they have learnt and
stimulates their love for cycling.”

She added: “The best thing that a child can do to improve their cycle proficiency is to cycle more often, and the cycle skills day kick starts this process.”

Sustrans says that at present it works alongside four schools in Llandudno, and two in Abergele in partnership with Conwy County Borough Council, supported by funding from the Welsh Assembly Governement and the trade organisation, Bike Hub.