Street riding star Danny MacAskill is fronting a new campaign that urges motorists in Scotland to give children cycling to school the space and time they need.
There's been a big increase in cycling in the country in the past few years, thanks in part to high-profile riders like Danny, Olympian Chris Hoy and round-the-world record beater Mark Beaumont, and this has led to an estimated 33 percent increase in the number of pupils going to school by bike.
Cycling Scotland hope to capitalise on this and get even more children riding with their new Cycle to School campaign, which will involve the setting up of Cycle Friendly Zones, along with school visits by the Riderz stunt cycling team. Children, their parents and drivers will be targeted in seven areas – Orkney, Moray, Edinburgh, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire.
Cycling Scotland chief executive Ian Aitken said: "Cycling to school is an ideal way of ... increasing children’s exercise routine. Getting children out in the fresh air also means they will arrive at school more alert and eager to learn. Research shows that children want to cycle to school, so we hope by making sure drivers look out for them, more children in Scotland will get on their bikes.”
The new campaign is part of wider efforts to encourage children in Scotland to cycle, which include provision of cycle training, development of cycle paths and the setting up of 20mph zones around schools. Over 10,000 children now go to accredited Cycle Friendly Schools.
