Kinson children start pedalling towards a congestion-free school run

Kinston Primary School pupils will celebrate the first completed element of a new project to improve the school run by taking part in cycling games near their newly installed bike shed. They will be joined by Director of Public Health for Bournemouth and Poole Dr Adrian Dawson.

They will be celebrating the opening of a bike shed as part of attempts in Bournemouth and Poole to overhaul the school run. The new facility at Kinson Primary will provide safe storage for 30 children’s bicycles, in order to boost children’s health and reduce traffic congestion.

Kinson Primary is one of 12 schools taking part in Bike It - a nationwide project set up by sustainable transport charity Sustrans with funding from Bournemouth Borough Council and the Primary Care Trust.

The charity’s research found that nearly one in three children would like to cycle to school but less than two per cent actually do.

Bike It Officer Jason Falconer, who began his post in March, said: “It is vital we tap into the massive enthusiasm from children to cycle, especially here in Bournemouth and Poole where one in three children aged 10 and 11are either overweight or obese – the highest levels in the country.

“Children who cycle a mile or two to school are well on the way to achieving the hour of activity they need to stay healthy. Cycling also gives youngsters a real sense of independence and they are likely to feel more alert for lessons when they arrive in the classroom.

“This bike shed is just the first piece in the jigsaw to get youngsters on their bikes and I’m sure that with more encouragement we will see real improvements to the school run, which has to be good for the whole community.”

Further information about Sustrans and Bike It, is available from www.sustrans.org.uk.