7 September 2007

Children Encouraged to Cycle for Health and Road Safety

Children are being encouraged to cycle to school by a Derby City Council campaign to improve physical activity levels as well as road safety this month.

The ‘b-active’ initiative, run by the Council and partners, is joining with the Council’s Cycle Derby project to offer prizes, bike safety checks, carried out by ‘bike detectives’, and bike rides until the end of this month. There will be sponsored bike rides starting in Markeaton Park at 11am on Saturday 22 September and in Darley Park at 9.30am on Sunday 30 September. ‘Glow and Go Week’, from Monday 24 September to Friday 28 September, will focus on visibility while cycling on the road at night and will involve various events at participating schools.

The Council will also be promoting International Walk to School Month in October.

Research carried out last year by Leeds Metropolitan University showed that, on average, 57% of Derby children aged five to 16 do not take enough exercise to stay healthy. The Council and its partners want to reduce this to 43.5% by 2009.

More information about the ‘b-active’ campaign is at www.derby.gov.uk/b-active and details of the cycling events this month are at www.cyclederby.co.uk.

Councillor Alan Graves, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Direct Services, said: “Cycling is one of the activities the ‘b-active’ campaign promotes all year round but, now the school summer holiday is over, we want to encourage children to still get their recommended seven hours of moderate physical activity a week. Cycling to school is a great way for children to increase their weekly activity levels. Research has shown that children who travel to school in this way are six times more likely to achieve their recommended seven hours of activity.”

Councillor Ranjit Banwait, Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, said: “We want to encourage children to cycle to school, even if it is only on one or two days a week to reduce congestion and, therefore, improve road safety around schools. The ‘Glow and Go Week’ will emphasise that children need to be seen while cycling, and our ‘bike detectives’ will make sure that their bikes are safe. We also want parents to set a good example by ditching the car keys and cycling to work or the shops.”

The ‘b-active’ campaign is part of Derby City Partnership’s Getting Derby Active strategy, which encourages everyone to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle. Getting more children to take seven hours of physical activity each week is one of Derby City Partnership’s 12 targets in its Local Public Service Agreement. Under this agreement, the Partnership is aiming to meet higher performance targets than would otherwise be possible, by March 2008. If it is successful, it will be rewarded with extra Government money.