Pupils challenged to get on their bikes for the Big Pedal

This March (3-14) will see charity Sustrans call for the school run to be ditched and cars left at home, in favour of travelling by bike or scooter.

First launched in 2009, the Big Pedal has gained popularity over the past five years and has become the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooting competition.

Participating schools compete with one another to make the most journeys by bike or scooter over 10 days.

By signing up to the Big Pedal schools receive tailored lesson plans, posters, maps, and ideas on how to encourage everyone in the school to get involved. They’ll also be in with a chance to win some amazing prizes for the school.

Last year Merkland School won the Special Educational Needs Schools’ (SEN) stage beating other SEN schools from across the across the UK.

They were presented with a special yellow jersey to mark the triumph.

Malcolm Shepherd, Sustrans Chief Executive, said: “Last year hundred of thousands of journeys were made by over a thousand schools and this year it will be even bigger and better!”

“The average primary school journey is just 1.5 miles which is the perfect distance to walk or cycle, so this year we’re aiming to get children in two thousand schools to make over one million journeys by bike and scooter over 10 school days.”

To get your school involved go to: www.bigpedal.org.uk