Children at Rokeby Park Primary School have been learning vital skills to be able to make their own way to school on two-wheels thanks to several council-funded initiatives.
On Monday 30 June, Bikeability training, which is part of the city’s active travel programme to get more kids cycling, was delivered at the school, which is in Hull’s Pickering Ward.
Delivered by Hull City Council’s cycle training provider, First Step Cycle, Bikeability training was given to year six pupils at the school by fully qualified instructors with a passion for teaching children, incorporating Level 1 (biking away from traffic and off-road) and Level 2 (biking on quiet roads with minimal traffic).
In addition, a Bike Library was delivered by local charity, R-evolution, funded by the local ward budget.
A Bike Library is an accessible scheme that sees bikes refurbished by an expert team of mechanics and volunteers from R-evolution, based in Hull, Cottingham and Scunthorpe.
In total, 40 refurbished children’s bikes were provided to the school on Wednesday 25 June and each one found a new home with a local child.
Furthermore, to ensure the safety of the pupils, each one also received a brand-new helmet from R-evolution and, with the support of Humberside Police, each bike was also securely-marked and registered on the national Bike Register database for free and then fitted with a security mark and warning label to deter thieves from stealing the bikes which can be traced and returned back to the original owner, if found.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure at Hull City Council, said: “At Hull City Council, we believe schemes, such as Bikeability and Bike Libraries, are important as it allows us to be inclusive and enable children to develop the skills they need for the future.
“It makes sure kids don’t miss out when they don’t have bikes and it’s an investment in the future of cycling in the city.”
Fergal McCullough, the CEO of R-evolution, said: “We are delighted to work with Hull City Council to encourage cycling within the city through the delivery of initiatives, such as our Bike Libraries.
“I find it exciting that children at Rokeby Park Primary School have been able to get a bike, that might not have otherwise been able to do so.”
Louis Kirk, business development director at First Step Cycle, said: “I believe it is important to teach children important life skills, such as riding a bike, as it enables them to be able to cycle with confidence from place to place, whether that be to and from school or for leisure.”
Sally Chaytor, school business manager at Rokeby Park Primary School, said: “Bikeability training and the bike library initiatives are important as they are practical ways that our school can help students keep active, which is better for their physical and mental health and the students themselves are doing their bit for the environment by cycling to school.”
This summer’s activity follows on from last July when the route to the school, off Anlaby Park Road North, was upgraded by the council with a new parallel zebra crossing replacing the signalised pedestrian crossing to provide a safe and efficient way for pedestrians and cyclists to get around the area. A 20mph zone was also added along Sibelius Road, down to St Thomas More School, for extra safety.
Councillor Ieronimo added: “The new crossing has been well-received locally and enhances safety for all road users and promotes healthier travel, such as walking and cycling.”
“This project aligns with our broader Community Plan for Hull to create more inclusive neighbourhoods as well as make the city healthier, fairer and more environmentally friendly.”
