Super effort for Sustrans Big Pedal (From Western Telegraph)

Super effort for Sustrans Big Pedal

4:40pm Saturday 9th March 2013 in County News

Children, parents and teachers from Neyland Community School left their cars at home and jumped on their bikes and scooters for the school run on Thursday as part of Sustrans’ Big Pedal competition – gaining first place across Pembrokeshire.

The school, which is one of 10 Pembrokeshire schools involved in the competition, came 13th in the whole of Wales, and 204th in the UK, in stage one of the competition.

Pupils also raised money for Sustrans and Comic Relief by dressing up as their favourite superhero, and they received a visit from ‘The Flash’ (Sustrans officer Howard Yeates).

Older pupils took part in a science lesson generating enough power operate a radio and lightbulb, and younger pupils learned about safe cycling with a special book.

TJ Stables, Neyland Community School Bike It! officer, said: “We are so proud of our children anyway, but were amazed that nearly half of children and parents came in on a bike or scooter, right from the nursery up to year six.

“We also raised more than £50 with the children dressing up as superheroes.”

She added: “A massive thank you must go to our parents for their ongoing support in the Bike It! scheme. We're going from strength to strength.”

Last year more than 950 schools took part, from Cornwall to the Highlands, Belfast to East Anglia. The combined efforts of children all over the country totalled a massive 1,140,075 miles, saving 59,021 gallons of fuel and £368,484.

The Big Pedal is the UK's biggest school cycling competition to get kids active. It is powered by Sustrans, the UK's leading sustainable transport charity and pioneer of the National Cycle Network.