Graham Stuart MP encourages local schools to get involved with Bike to School Week

Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, has written to local schools in the constituency to ask them to encourage their staff, pupils and parents to get involved with the national Bike to School Week.

The campaign, which this year will run from 23rd-27th September, is organised every year by Sustrans and is free to take part in. Sustrans are a charity who promote the use of more sustainable modes of transport and provide free resources for schools and families to use – including tips for how families can bike, walk or scooter to school safely – with the aim of reducing the number of families who use a car to get to school in the mornings.

Explaining why he felt it was important to write to local schools about the campaign, Graham said: “As a keen cyclist myself, I think it’s important to get as many people out of cars and on bikes as possible. Not only do cycling and walking help keep you fit and healthy, they’re also a great way of reducing the amount of traffic on our roads and making our town and villages nicer places to be.

“I was saddened to learn that only 2% of primary school children cycle to school, so it’s clear that we need to do more to make cycling an easy, safe and appealing option for getting to school.

“Of course, it’s also especially important as we work to combat the effects of climate change. The UK is a world-leader in creating battery technology that will reduce the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere, and we are banning traditional petrol and diesel cars by 2040 so that we reduce our carbon emissions. But going green on your school run also makes a massive difference, so it’s fantastic that Sustrans’ campaign will encourage more people to do just that.”

“I hope that schools in my constituency will take this opportunity to teach children and their parents more about the benefits that cycling can bring.”