More children in St Ives cycle to school after new bike shed

The number of children cycling, scooting or skateboarding to a school in St Ives has more than trebled, the area’s town deal said.

It comes after a new bike shed was installed at St Ives Junior School earlier in October, providing room for 30 bikes as well as scooters and skateboards.

It comes from £15,000 of funding from the St Ives Low Carbon Transport Strategy budget, part of the St Ives Town Deal.

Previously around five or six children were regularly cycling to the school, and the number has now risen to more than 20.

Teacher at the school, Jenny Rehaag, said: “Developing a positive habit of using these ways of getting around rather than just jumping in a car will provide a great foundation for when they are older.”

The idea for the shed came after a survey by the charity Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, formerly Sustrans, showed only a small number of children were cycling to school.

Ms Rehaag said: “After discovering that lack of a secure, sheltered place to store bikes during the school day was one of the main reasons some were choosing not to cycle, we decided to do something to address this.”

Dave Davies, project officer for the charity, said: “One of our main objectives is to reduce congestion around the school gate to make it more accessible for children to walk and wheel and cycle.”

The Low Carbon Transport Strategy hopes to reduce the impact of vehicles in St Ives and encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport.

Children at the school have welcomed the new addition.

Jake, 11, rides his bike to school regularly, and said: “It is really good for exercise and I am not polluting the planet by going in a car every day.”

Ed, 10, has been riding his bike to school for a few weeks and said: “The new shed is really cool and is definitely encouraging more people to cycle to school.”