Get into... riding to school
With a few weeks left of the summer holidays, it's a great time to be thinking about getting your kids to ride their bikes to school next term. The chances are they won't need much encouragement – one in three kids already wants to cycle to school!
There are bags of benefits too – both for children and parents. Evidence shows that kids who ride to school are fitter, smarter, concentrate better and are more independent. On top of which parents save money and time by ditching the school run, and you all get to feel green and environmentally-friendly!
There are of course a few things it's well worth doing to make sure kids are set-up safely for the ride. Here are our top tips:
- Make sure bikes are in a good condition. Check tyres, saddle and handlebar height, and brakes.
- Try out some routes. If your youngsters haven't tried cycling to school before, ride with them and try out some routes. Don't forget the best route might not be the same way you'd drive.
- Think about some cycle training. Bikeability is the 21st century version of the old Cycle Proficiency scheme – but way cooler!
- Make sure the kids are kitted out with decent helmets and some reflective or hi-visibility gear. It's important that helmets fit properly: positioned squarely on their head, sitting just above the eyebrows, with straps securely fastened and not twisted, with enough room to insert two fingers between chin and strap.
- Get a decent quality bike lock, and check with the school that there's somewhere secure for them to lock up their bikes when they get there.
- Enjoy it!
