with Amy Martin of Sustrans

Next week sees the launch of The Big Pedal, the UK’s biggest cycle and scoot to school event run by Sustrans.

It inspires pupils, staff and parents to choose two wheels for their journey to school, and is a great way to start getting your children more active every day.

Individual classes, as well as whole schools, can take part in the competition.

The Big Pedal gets schools competing to see who can record the greatest number of pupils, staff and parents cycling or scooting to school, with their best 10 days determining their final position.

Last year, Swindon’s very own Ferndale Primary School was the overall winner of the national competition, managing to get 75 per cent of their pupils and staff pedaling and scooting to school during The Big Pedal, up from just two per cent beforehand.

With parents and staff on board it was a big success and they logged an impressive 32,254 cycling and scooting journeys in just two weeks, and pupils won an extraordinary scooter trick display full of somersaults and jumps from Team MGP.

This year, there are plenty of prizes up for grabs for those competing as a whole school as well as individual classes. The winning primary school will receive a visit from Team MGP, the best scooter display team in the UK to give them a show-stopping demonstration of scooter riding skills.

For the winning secondary school, they will receive a visit from the The Extreme Mountain Bike Show to give an electrifying display show from some of the best riders from across the world.

With so many other prizes to be won by schools and classes, this is a great opportunity to get children out in the fresh air, have some exercise and learn more about why travelling by bike and scooter is so beneficial, whilst having fun by getting into the competitive spirit of The Big Pedal. Visit www.bigpedal.org.uk to register.