The following is a transcript of Phyll’s presentation

The subject of my presentation is ‘How can we encourage parents and teachers to allow children to cycle to school as part of an active lifestyle’.

Firstly, I should say that many of the children I spoke to were very concerned about media reports on the rise in numbers of overweight and obese children and the likely increase in ill health of the next generation of adults, much of it thought to be due to lack of exercise. This correlates with my own observations over 30 years of teaching, of a general decline in children’s physical fitness and stamina. The pupils I consulted considered that the adults in their lives were not doing enough to keep them healthy. But they felt helpless in being able to do anything about it themselves as their lives are ruled by adults.

My surveys showed a latent desire to cycle to school - 78% in one middle school - if only they had the opportunity. But they found themselves prevented, by parents, the school’s policy of discouragement, the lack of facilities such as secure parking and locker provision, and safe routes. The children were willing, even keen. They understood the health and environmental benefits, but felt frustrated by the lack of encouragement, apathy even, from the adults in their lives. They blamed their parents, their schools, local and national government.

The older middle school children were asked for ideas to encourage more pupils to cycle to school. Here are some of them:

Teachers giving an example. (I usually cycle to any school I’m called out to if at all possible although I am rather concerned about the security of my bike when left on the premises. By the staff I’m considered to be either a fitness freak or hard up. Cycling still suffers from an attitude problem, I’m afraid.)

Secure cycle parking available at school for all who want to use it.

Lockers for secure storage of helmets, clothes, accessories and books, so we don’t have to carry them around at school or take them home each night.

Cycle training for younger children (Currently this school starts training in Year 7, 11-12 year olds.)

Safe routes to all schools.

More ‘eco-friendly’ themes in lessons (These could be encouraged by higher Ofsted ratings for schools initiating these.)

Regular local cycle trips and events (These children were disappointed that their school used to have a cycling club but for some reason it stopped.)

The children were asked what deters them from cycling to school now and came up with the following points:

Parents unwilling to allow due to perceived danger (from traffic, strangers and bullying)

Parents too willing to give lifts.

Weather, especially cold (the availability of suitable clothing could be demonstrated, even made available for sale at school)

School prohibiting cycling (due to perceived danger and unwillingness to provide secure parking facilities because of cost and inconvenience. The fact that the children were likely to gain in health and fitness was not considered.)

Compulsion on the wearing of helmets (Many pupils were deterred from cycling if compelled to wear a helmet, due to appearance, comfort and inconvenience of storage.)

The children were asked how they thought parents could be more encouraging:

By buying us decent bikes (It was suggested that taking VAT off the cost of new bikes would encourage this.)

By cycling with us

They were asked for any other ideas which would make cycling a more attractive option:

Facilities for fun-cycling (These middle school children were very impressed with the new skate boarding facility in a redundant garage at the bus station. A velodrome would be very acceptable, as would a designated piece of rough ground for off-road mountain biking - and you may have seen some correspondence we’ve had recently in the local press concerning the possibility of campaigning for such a facility at Mousehold Heath.)

Opportunities for participating in competitive events (Cycle orienteering and the IMPRUVE Get Set Award Scheme managed by the British Cycling Federation come to mind.)

I also had comments from older students:

Teenagers would cycle if their parents did.

Teenagers would cycle if it was easier than trying to persuade their parents to take them by car

Secure facilities at school for storing bikes

Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) in schools and colleges (with the children’s / students’ ideas being incorporated.)

Improvement in road safety (Many youngsters want to cycle but feel powerless against the wishes of parents who regard the roads as being too dangerous.)

Training schemes for parents who would like to cycle with their children but are too nervous because they haven’t been on a bike for years

The children and older students also made suggestions for encouraging cycling among the general population:

Seeing more people cycling

Cycling promoted as being more convenient and quicker than other modes of travel for short journeys

Far greater provision of secure cycle parking facilities at shopping precincts and public places

Free or cheap to hire ‘city bikes’ readily available (The Adshel sponsored SmartBike - automated smart-card operated bike pool scheme - comes to mind.)

Media campaigns involving celebrities

Reduce the popularity of the car ( through road restrictions, increased taxation, road pricing, fuel costs and parking charges.)

So where do we go from here?

I think you’ll agree that many good ideas have been put forward by the young people contacted for this survey, while schemes already in existence are showing excellent results. But these schemes are in the minority and much more could be done to promote cycling among school students and young people and encourage its continuance into adult life, but it must be done by the adults concerned. What is needed now is that real action, along with the necessary funds being made available, actually takes place.

So the main themes of a promotional strategy are:

The Government to take a stronger, more pro-active role in requiring action to promote cycling among both adults and children. ( The intentions of the National Cycling Strategy should be seen to be implemented - that the levels of cycling be doubled, on the 1996 baseline, by 2002 and quadrupled by 2012. In fact, the target for 2002 has now been dropped.)

Every school should be required to have a SRtS scheme and a School Travel Plan (devised through consultation between parents, pupils, staff and the local authority - with cycling as a major component)

All children, at least from Year 4 (8-9 year olds) upwards, should have cycle training appropriate to their age, including related activities such as map reading, route planning and cycle maintenance. This should form part of the National Curriculum. Needless to say, it is essential that children learn to ride a bike; once they reach adulthood they have little prospect of doing so, especially women. This could be a serious handicap particularly for anyone who doesn’t drive. Cycling should be considered as an essential life skill. Speaking as someone who goes everywhere by bike, including on the most wonderful tours, I would label anyone unable to cycle as severely deprived.

Middle and high schools and colleges should have a member of staff dedicated to promoting the School Travel Plan and related cycling activities.

More opportunity for cycling fun, including inter-school competitive events, velodrome and off-road facilities

With the National Cycle Network now largely in place, there should be far more promotion of cycle tourism

Education of parents into the necessity of physical activity for their offspring, including cycling and walking to school

Availability of cycle training for adults, particularly lapsed and novice cyclists

Roads must be seen to be safe for cycling. (Many problems result from lack of experience among drivers of the cyclist’s point of view. As part of their training all learner drivers should be required to cycle among traffic.)

Promotion, even prescription, of cycling by general practitioners to patients who could benefit from this type of exercise for physical and mental well-being.

Schools could be far more enthusiastic about encouraging both pupils and staff to cycle.

For this evening’s presentation invitations were sent out to 53 schools in Norwich and the immediate surroundings. We have representatives here from 4 schools. So we need far more realisation of the benefits of cycling and enthusiasm to promote it. No wonder the pupils consider that not enough is being done by the adults involved.

So how about the formation of, something like, The Norfolk / Norwich Association of Active Schools? This could meet once or twice a year to discuss ideas for activities, and these could include all forms of physical activity, not just cycling. I’d like to hear your thoughts about this, or any other ideas for promoting cycling among school children.

Finally, I’d like to tell you about a young lad I met at a youth hostel, cooking himself a slap-up meal in the self-catering kitchen. It turned out he was 13 years old, on a solo cycle tour which he was thoroughly enjoying. He was completely self sufficient and self confident. How many 13 year olds do this sort of activity today? Many more could, given the opportunity and encouragement.