Bike Worcester is featured on BBC One!

It’s Back to School for Worcester’s Bike Buses, as featured on the One Show As the new term starts this week for pupils, it’s also back to school for Worcester’s Bike Buses. The modern concept of Bike Buses originally started in Spain, are growing in popularity across the UK, and now booming across Worcester City. Bike Worcester has helped set up ten Bike Bus routes at seven schools in Worcester over the last 18 months. The Bike Bus that operates to St. Barnabas C of E Primary School, featured on the One Show last night, Monday 4th September.  Bike Buses support and encourage children and their parents to cycle to school each week on an organised route. Volunteer leaders, who are often parents, coordinate the groups setting off safely and crossing at junctions, which gives families a safe space and confidence to cycle together.  Alex Mace, leads the Bike Bus to St. Barnabas C of E Primary, which started last November. As a parent of two boys who attend the school, he said “We are so thrilled to have one of Worcester’s Bike Buses featuring on the One Show, drawing attention to families enjoying cycling as a healthy and sustainable way of getting about. My boys, age 10 and 7, think it’s a really fun way to start the school day, cycling to school with their friends and have even nicknamed it the Barna-bus! We enjoy having occasional special visitors along to join in, such as our Head Teacher, as well as the Mayor of Worcester and the local councillor. We’ve even invited Jermaine Jenas, the One Show presenter, to come along and see how it all works.” Earlier this year, a £1,000 grant from Worcester City Council, helped Bike Worcester to provide support for more schools in the city to introduce Bike Buses, funding equipment, such as high-vis tabards for parents and children cycling and group leaders. Bike Worcester have worked closely with schools to develop custom routes, train parent volunteers to form a protective cordon of bikes around the group and publicise in school newsletters and social media.  Bike Buses are now operating from North Worcester Primary Academy, St Georges RC Primary School, St. Barnabas C of E Primary, Redhill Primary and Nunnery Wood Primary School. This new school term, Bike Buses will start at St. Georges C of E Primary and Honeywell Primary School, helping reduce traffic and air pollution from cars. Danny Brothwell, Chair of Bike Worcester said "It’s fantastic to see Bike Buses expanding across Worcester City and all the benefits this brings to families and the wider community by reducing air pollution and enjoying healthy active lifestyles. Over the last year, we’ve seen parents who haven’t been on a bike for years, regain their confidence and children super keen to join in to cycle with friends and practice their bike handling skills and road sense. We invite parents to get in touch via our website if interested in getting support from Bike Worcester to start a Bike Bus at other schools in the city." Community group, Bike Worcester, was set up 5 years ago and is dedicated to promoting safe and accessible cycling in Worcester and advocating for better cycling infrastructure. They aim to make cycling a regular way of getting around and promote healthier lifestyles, involving hundreds of local people based in and around Worcester. They are making genuine progress, encouraging more people, including families and children, to use their bikes, especially for short journeys within the city.  Bike Worcester’s other popular active travel initiatives include a monthly organised family bike ride, called Kidical Mass, a Bike Recycling Project in collaboration with Crowngate Shopping Centre (with unwanted bikes refurbished and going to people in need), and the SHIFT scheme, where businesses are encouraged to make a small donation for every kilometre cycled by employees to a charity of your choice, providing a great incentive to try active travel. More volunteers are always welcome to help with active travel initiatives, and can get in touch via their website. Find out more and get involved at www.bikeworcester.org.uk or Search @BikeWorcester on Twitter and Facebook.