In 2008 Sefton won almost £2 million to become a Cycle Town and boost cycling levels to European levels through improving infrastructure and travel behaviour change programmes in the community. In particular, they wanted to boost the number of children travelling to school by bike.
Flat terrain, coastal paths and wide open roads make the Victorian seaside resort of Southport the natural choice for a cycling town. Sefton Council had long recognised the benefits of linking transport and health projects and they were pioneers in rolling out Bikeability cycle training to schools throughout the region.
The challenge
Southport had been teaching children Bikeability for over two decades, but they couldn’t understand why the number of children participating had plateaued. We worked with over 30 schools in Southport to help them realise their Cycle Town ambitions, and later expanded to other schools throughout Sefton.
“We’d been training children at schools in Southport about cycling on the roads for over 20 years, and Merseyside was the largest provider of Bikeability in the country,” recalls Jean Hunt at Sefton Council. “But the numbers of children who participated in year five and six remained static – at around 70% in Southport. Although we offered Bikeability to more schools the percentages were not increasing.”
Why Sustrans?
Sefton had worked with us before, mainly on infrastructure projects, but this was the first time they commissioned us to work with schools. Jean explains: “We liked the idea that cycling could become part of the culture of the school and that you involve everyone in the local community – parents, grandparents, even the local supermarkets.”
Our approach
The Council started with Bike It schools officers in 10 schools in Southport and expanded to 30, including Formby. Later they got more funding for schools officers throughout Sefton and now work with 41 schools.
When our school's officers went into the schools they discovered that a lot of the children couldn’t ride a bike by Year 5, the year when Bikeability training started, which meant they weren’t able to participate in the scheme, which offers cycle training on the roads. The school's officers focussed on teaching those children to cycle before Year 5 so they were ready to take up the next level of training.
They also started offering cycling-related activities after school and during school holidays, which families were invited to join. ‘Ditch the Stabilisers’ events were particularly popular, as younger children could get the opportunity to learn to ride a bike, while all ages are welcome to join cycle rides.
Results in our Sefton Schools
17%
of children regularly cycle to school
51%
of children sometimes cycle to school
Bikeability training in Southport increased to 86% take-up by children (up from 70%)
Just a year later after the scheme began, the results of participation in Bikeability jumped to 86% across 10 schools and the number of children who never cycled to school almost halved, to 34%.
Today, in schools taking part in the project within Sefton, 17% of children say they regularly cycle to school and 51% say they sometimes cycle (compared to just 2.8% in 2007, before Sustrans started work in the area).
Special events continue to inspire the children and their families to cycle, including an annual bike ride through the National Trust property at Formby, using pathways where bicycles are not usually allowed. Schools are invited to an annual celebration of cycling achievements, where pupils and teachers enjoy tea and cake, while children receive their certificates. Events are all-inclusive for all-abilities. Grandparents are actively encouraged to join rides and special needs bikes are available for people with disabilities.
Meanwhile, Sefton Council has actively promoted the scheme to primary schools across the region. Public Health director Janet Atherton also proved a fantastic ally, who helped spread the word. She went on cycle training herself and has become an avid cycling enthusiast who constantly highlights the benefits of active travel to school and the workplace.
If you'd like to work with us please contact your local Sustrans team
