South Ayrshire Council News

A group of P7 pupils from Doonfoot Primary School

Some South Ayrshire Council pupils who will soon be moving from their primary schools to Belmont Academy have celebrated National Bike Week by cycling from their current schools to their new one.

As part of a pilot project being run by members of the Council’s Road Safety section the pupils are learning to be independent travellers and using their bicycles to get to and from school.

A group of P7 pupils from Alloway Primary School and a group from Doonfoot Primary School were supervised by road safety staff and Police when, for the first time, they cycled from their respective schools to Belmont Academy. All the children who took part have received road cycle training.

Councillor Peter Convery, the Council’s Portfolio Carrier for Sustainability and the Environment said: “This is a terrific project that has culminated in the pupils first cycling trip to their new school. The pupils have all previously received road cycle training from either Council employees or trained volunteer parents, so they are all aware of how to travel safely on a bicycle.

“I believe that this will encourage them to consider travelling to and from school by bicycle, will give them great exercise, and mean that they can get out and about with their friends.

“In South Ayrshire we have an ever increasing number of cycle paths and cycling has never been more popular than it is today. Many people find it beneficial to their physical and mental wellbeing and a quick and efficient way to travel, it is also very kind to the environment. Importantly cycling is something that people can enjoy whatever their age, so I hope that these children will continue to cycle for the rest of their lives.”

The Alloway Primary School pupils cycled from their school to Belmont Academy in the morning and the Doonfoot pupils made their journey in the afternoon. Road Safety employees, Campus Police Officers, Active Schools Co-ordinators and teachers were all involved in the project. During the day a representative from the John Pollock Centre, ran a bike clinic and advised pupils and Belmont Academy employees about their bikes.

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