Local schools do wheelie well in the Big Pedal

Local schools have excelled once again in the annual Big Pedal competition, with pupils and teachers accepting the challenge to cycle or scoot to school.

The Big Pedal ran for a fortnight, with seventeen competing schools from across Bridgend County Borough clocking up a combined total of nearly 10,000 active journeys!

Litchard Primary School were the highest placed local school in the ‘large primary’ category, with 50 per cent of their pupils digging out their wheels to ride to school for five days or more. Their extra special efforts saw them ranked fourth place in Wales and 42^nd out of 421 competing schools across the UK.

Coychurch and Trelales primary schools were hot on the wheels of Litchard, with 47 per cent and 46 per cent of pupils taking part respectively.

In the ‘small primary school’ category, Porthcawl Primary School were the top local school, with 50 per cent of their pupils cycling or scooting. They also came 11^th in Wales and 95^th out of 392 UK schools. The second best local school was Ogmore Vale, where 40 per cent of pupils took part for five days or more.

Ysgol Bryn Castell also did exceptionally well. Thirty four per cent of their pupils took part, which meant they come out on top out of three schools in Wales in their category and third overall in the UK.

Organised by cycling charity Sustrans, and supported locally by Bridgend County Borough Council, the Big Pedal is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooting challenge, encouraging parents to leave their cars at home for the daily school run.

The popularity of scooters continues to soar locally, with 51 per cent of this year’s Big Pedal journeys made by scooter, compared with 49 per cent on bikes.

A total of 831 ‘active journeys’ were also made during the Big Pedal fortnight by teachers and other school staff.

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Sustrans Schools Officer, Roger Dutton, said: “Once again, the Big Pedal received an incredible response from schools across the UK and in Bridgend County Borough. The Big Pedal is all about encouraging ‘active travel’ which is healthier for both children and parents and better for the environment too. The support has been incredible and we hope that ‘active journeys’ will continue across all schools in Bridgend County Borough throughout the summer and beyond.”

We are passionate about promoting Active Travel and providing realistic opportunities for families to choose two wheels or walking their everyday journeys instead of relying on cars. Well done to all of the schools who took part in the Big Pedal challenge this year.

Councillor Richard Young, the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities

To find out more about The Big Pedal please visit www.bigpedal.org.uk