Young schoolchildren in Ludlow learn to ride a bike as part of balance-ability project

Adults: Sharon Pitt (Staff member), Kate Mayes (Plush Hill Cycles, Church Stretton and supplier of bikes and helmets). Children: Shaneice Badlan, Olivier Rigney, Ruby Martin, Oscar Lynch and Kristiyan Yordana.

Young children aged four to seven will have their first experience of cycling through balance bike sessions at St Laurence CE Primary School in Ludlow.

Sacha Lee, school bike club coordinator and Teaching Assistant, will lead on the delivery of fun-filled balance-ability sessions for the children thanks to the new fleet of balance bikes. Funded by the Department of Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, the project aims to encourage children to choose cycling as an enjoyable, regular activity to help them stay fit and happy.

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for cycling, said:

“Balance bikes have proved a very effective way to help young children balance and steer, and it’s fantastic that we’re able to support the school provide activities such as this.

“Teaching children cycling skills early on is very important for their confidence and ultimately their safety.”

A successful grant application to the Local Joint Committee in 2012 enabled the popular after-school bike clubs to benefit from a set of ‘pool’ bikes. These have enabled children to participate who didn’t own a bike or were unable to get them to school for the sessions. The school also provides Year 6 children with Bikeability cycle training – the new cycling proficiency.

Further information:

The Local Sustainable Transport Fund (Active Travel to Education) has enabled many primary schools across Shropshire to benefit from active travel initiatives including walking buses, cycle skills, learn to ride and balance – ability and scooting skills sessions and Stepping Out child pedestrian training.