Champions sought to keep kids cycling through the Winter

With lack of physical exercise among children contributing to the increasing health problems of young people, Sustrans - the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, is urging parents, teachers and pupils to become an official School Champion and actively encourage UK school children to ‘keep on cycling’ throughout the winter months.

Aiming to secure just one Champion for every one of the UK’s 29,023 schools through on-line registration at www.areyouachampion.org.uk. the campaign has been developed in response to the growing concerns about the increasingly sedentary lifestyle of children in the UK. The Champions scheme builds on the success of a pilot scheme developed by Sustrans, which has seen 1,600 Champions already registered across the UK. Each have been developing and organising activities to encourage teachers, parents and children to think cycling and walking first when it comes to getting to school.

Sarah Oakley of Sustrans commented, “In the winter months there’s a great temptation to give up exercise in favour of a lift to school, a warm spot in front of the TV or hours on the Playstation. Cycling isn’t just a winter activity. Well wrapped up, a child cycling to school stands not only to benefit physically from the daily exercise, but arrives to school more alert and ready to learn¹. The aim of our campaign is simple – with just one pupil, parent or teacher ‘Champion’ in every school encouraging just 10 pupils to cycle or walk we could soon have over a quarter of a million more children getting fit while getting to school.

Statistics show that in just 20 years the number of 5-16 year olds travelling to school by car has doubled², while government figures reveal that nearly a 1/3 boys and over a 1/3 of girls do not achieve the minimum of one hour of moderate physical activity a day. Unsurprisingly, this lack of physical exercise has a direct impact on the health of our children, with one in three girls and one in five boys aged between 2-15 being overweight or obese³

Dr Ashley Cooper, Head of Exercise and Health Sciences at the University of Bristol believes that exercise as habit is key: “Encouraging children to cycle and walk to school is an important step in getting them into the habit of taking exercise, stimulating the change from sedentary to more active lifestyles. Research shows that physically active children experience fewer chronic health problems than their sedentary counterparts; they are less likely to become obese; can cope better with everyday physical tasks and have a stronger self-image and more self-confidence. Stopping the process during winter months simply stores up more problems for the future.”

By giving just a few hours each month, Sustrans’ School Champions have already delivered amazing results. Parents have arranged car-free days, cycle training and cycling and walking incentive schemes. Teachers have also taken up the cause by developing and implementing School Travel Plans and working with individual pupil champions or with their classes to organise petitions, develop maps showing safe routes to schools and even prepare presentations to local authorities to secure their support.

Would-be Champions can find out more, access tips and resources and register for free on-going support and advice by visiting www.areyouachampion.org.uk.

¹ California Department of Education (2002) State study proves physically fit kids perform better academically, News Release, 12th October 2002

² Department for Transport (2005) - National Travel Survey 2004

³ Sproston, K and Primatesta, P (eds) (2003) Health Survey for England 2002 Volume 1: The health of children and young people

Winter Cyclists urged to think warm...

To coincide with the clocks going back and the official arrival of winter in the UK, Sustrans – the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, is encouraging pupils, parents and teachers to sign up on-line as a Champion at www.areyouachampion.org.uk. and help encourage others to keep on cycling throughout the winter months.

When cycling to school in the winter, Sustrans says just think WARM:

• Wear high visibility clothing so that other road users can see you
• Arrange to meet friends en-route – cycling together can be fun and as a group you’re more visible
• Re-check your brakes and tyres before every journey
• Map your route – use well-lit roads and cycle lanes where possible