It’s time to kickstart the new school year with Scootember 2021! Scootember is our annual scooter festival, promoting the benefits of scooting to school. So parents, it’s time to grab a scooter and scoot to school with your kids.

Why do we love scooters?

Scooting is not only a fun, family-friendly activity, it’s also a cheap mode of transport and a great way to stay active.

Here are three benefits of scooting to school:

1. It boosts mental wellbeing

Physical activity like scooting can reduce stress, increase energy levels and improve mood. Scooting to school also helps your kids become more independent, which can boost their self-esteem. Teachers report that pupils who walk, cycle or scoot to school are happier and more alert than pupils who travel by car.

2. It’s good for the environment

Leaving your car at home helps to reduce traffic jams outside the school gate, improving air quality and making the school run safer. Scooting to school is more sustainable than driving, so it’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and create a greener, healthier environment.

3. It’s good exercise

Children and young people need 60 minutes of exercise a day and scooting to school is a great way to add exercise to the daily school run. It’s a fun, fast and cheap way to get to school.

That’s why we love Scootember, our annual scooter festival. Our Road Safety Trainers visit schools across Leeds to provide scooter training and organise fun events! Get involved with the activities by scooting to school with your kids.

Our top tips for scooting to school

Want to try scooting to school with your kids? Take some time to plan the journey in advance. Find a quiet, easy route and avoid steep hills. Make sure the wheels and handlebars are attached securely so the scooter is safe to use. Check your school has dedicated scooter parking. Schools can apply for free scooter storage by emailing us at ITBLearning@leeds.gov.uk.

Let us know what you’re doing to celebrate Scootember by using the hashtag #Scootember2021 and follow @ConnectingLeeds to find out what we’re up to.