Does your school know about the The Big Pedal (19-30 April)?

Do you know whether your child’s class or school is taking part in The Sustrans Big Pedal, the largest schools’ cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting challenge in the UK?

Schools compete to see how many pupils, staff and parents make ‘active journeys’. It’s all happening from 19-30 April, and there are brilliant prizes to be won every day.

We’re asking parents and carers to share this link with their children’s schools and encourage them to register either a class or the whole school, for free, now: Register – Sustrans Big Pedal 2021. (You could also find out whether your school is registered with the Modeshift STARS safe and sustainable travel accreditation scheme).

As a Big Pedal promoter, the Influencing Travel Behaviour team can’t wait to see how many children (and adults!) wheel or walk their way to school! We will send participating schools an amazing selection of accessories and equipment to help more people locally travel sustainably.

Amazing journeys
This year’s theme is ‘amazing journeys’. Children will see their local area from a new perspective, learn about the abundance of benefits of active travel and discover amazing school journeys of children around the world. So it’s not just about the numbers – it’s also about your own school’s amazing journeys, too – new routes, discoveries, experiences, insights – so all of it! (If you put anything on Twitter, please tag @ConnectingLeeds.)

Remote learners
It’s not just for those who are in school, either: pupils at home can take part by logging other active journeys with family members or by doing physical activities at home.

Active travel
Active travel is so important! It’s great for children’s physical health and mental wellbeing. The UK’s Chief Medical Officers say that children need at least 60mns of vigorous physical activity every day. An active journey to school can help them hit that daily target.

It also helps to reduce congestion and air pollution outside the school gate.

And there’s the Covid-19 context too: the DfT has highlighted active travel as a way for pupils to be physically active while encouraging physical distancing.

Good luck to all taking part! Don’t forget to share your photos with us @ConnectingLeeds