Schoolchildren, teachers and parents across Dorset are being urged to get on their bikes this week.

 

Bike to School week begins today and aims to encourage those on the school run to discover the benefits of cycling, scooting and walking.

 

It is an opportunity for children and parents to kickstart active travel habits for the school journey permanently.

 

It is also a time to celebrate the good work already being done in schools to inspire more children and their parents to get on board.

 

The campaign is led by cycling charity Sustrans and is open to schools across the country.

 

This week, pupils will get involved in activities including planning school journeys, conducting traffic surveys, calculating calories burned and carbon emissions saved, learning about the effects of activity on the heart and carrying out simple checks on bikes and scooters.

 

Chris Bennett, of Sustrans, said: “We hope as many schools as possible will get behind our Bike to School week, which is a great opportunity to put cycling, scooting and walking under the spotlight.

 

“The need to rebalance the way we travel is stronger than ever. Cycling, scooting and walking is part of the solution to many of today’s challenges, from air pollution to congestion, childhood obesity and physical inactivity.”

 

The Department for Transport says the proportion of children walking and cycling to school has been declining in England since 1995, with the number being driven to primary school increasing each year - one in four cars on the road during the morning peak are on the school run.

 

Bike to School aims to help children get their recommended hour of physical activity a day and maintain a healthy weight.

 

There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates cycling and walking has many health, social and environmental benefits, according to the charity.

 

Visit www.sustrans.org.uk/ bike-school-week