We organise fun events to promote cycling, such as obstacle courses and cycling games at Festivals, cycle training combined with bike maintenance in local parks in the holidays, Bikers Breakfasts and Bike 2 School Challenges.STA bikes staff volunteered at these events; and members of the school PTSA volunteer their time in running a wholesome breakfast table laden with delicious food, and pay for the food. The event is held at the front of the school, at the gates, so that literally every child or parent entering is made aware of the what is going on - they can't avoid it. Dr Bike (usually two of them) repair sick bikes, and have a constant queue. A fun cycling obstacle course keeps the children busy. Cycling poetry is displayed along the fences and gates. An Arty Corner brings out the creative in crayoned drawings of fantastic bikes. Bunting and balloons give a festive feel, and an information table strategically placed next to the entrance gate offers a wide range of free maps, leaflets and other cycling literature.It is the ideal occasion to nobble parents about taking up cycle training, and most of our mums have joined in this way.
We also usually try and have some live music playing (often by a parent); and a juggler or unicyclist -- something to give a festival atmosphere. Theoretically a free breakfast is offered only to every child (or adult) who cycles to school on that day. In practice, there's pretty much a free for all! But many more children will bring their bikes in on that day, especially as it is the culmination of the week long 'Bike 2 School Challenge'.
The aim of this is to raise the profile of cycling in the school, and encourage pupils, staff and parents to cycle to school more. A tally is kept by teachers in each class of everyone who cycles to school that week. Points are awarded per person, depending on whether they are a child, parent or member of staff, with staff cycling winning the highest points! The class with the highest number of points wins a GBP50 book voucher. This is usually a good natured battle, with particularly competitive teachers raising the stakes as the week goes on, and much good natured banter in the staff room. At one event, over 80 bikes were counted on the overloaded cycle stands!For several years, we have been funded by the LCC's Community Grants to put on a fun event at local Festivals, most notably Stokefest, and Shoreditch Festival. At these we have had a Giant Cycle Race Game, a huge fun obstacle course, Dr. Bike, cycle training for children and adults, and a stall with free cycle maps and other literature. These events are a good opportunity to talk to local people and interest them in becoming 'cycling champions' at their child's school, and many cycle training sessions have been able to be set up from informal networking in this way. In 2007 we were a victim of our own success, as attempts to book people in to times to have a go on the obstacle course or for cycle training proved completely useless, we were swamped by demand, and irate queues formed! Next year -- no booking, and it's everyone waiting in an orderly queue please!For several years we have run cycle training and Dr. Bike in local parks, with great success. We typically will run a three- or four-day series of sessions in the summer or Easter holidays. We have tended to pre-publicise and take bookings for the morning, but have left the afternoon slots free for people who just happen to 'turn up' and want to learn to ride a bike. We provide the loan of a bike from our Bike Pool, and give people information on how they can continue their training. We have got the organisation down to a fine art now, and included in the staff team is a 'guard dog' (Kevin, who is completely harmless, but looks impressive) to mind the pool bikes, and unlock and lock them back up again for the trainers. We try and provide two Dr. Bikes, four trainers, and at least one person to co-ordinate everything - oh, and of course all the free maps and leaflets etc. The Dr. Bikes repair as many faults as they are able, and there is usually a queue for their services.As with the festivals, these have been great opportunities to get to know local parents, and interest them in starting up cycling in their children's schools.STA bikes has organised several rides for novice cyclists. The first, a family Fun Day Out, was aimed at parents and children at Sir Thomas Abney Primary School. We cycled up the local Parkland Walk, to Highgate Woods, where we had a picnic, and the sporty lot played games. We learnt a lot from this first ride!The next ride we organised took place this year, as the culmination to the Saturday Family Club course held in the early summer. This was a ride led expertly and relaxedly by Patrick Field of the London School of Cycling to watch the Prologue stage of the Tour de France in Hyde Park. Seventy-two people of all ages (Zac, the youngest, was just four on that day!), and some people who had came to the club only a few weeks before as total beginners, pedalled along and enjoyed themselves immensely. Suzie and friend, with learning difficulties, also ably cycled both all the way there, and back again. The cycle trainers demonstrated superb skills and judgement in shepherding the mass of mostly novice cyclists along both minor and major roads into central London - 'Poetry in Motion' was the description from one observer! Justifiably, people felt pride in their achievement, and gained immeasurably in confidence. It was a truly inspiring day, and a model of inclusive cycling.
