It's Time To Get The Kids Back In The Saddle

By Katrina Tweedie
Scotland Daily Record
March 13, 2007

Mucking about on a bike is a fundamental part of childhood, encouraging both independence and adventure, as well as responsibility. But while 90 per cent of children have bikes, only one per cent cycle to school, mostly because of parents' safety fears. Now parents are being urged to swap the school run for the school cycle, where it's safe to do so.

With more than 30 per cent of kids saying they would like to cycle to school, proficiency tests and bicycle training can reassure parents and help children develop the necessary road sense. "Getting kids out and about on their bikes more is crucial to help safeguard the future health of our nation," said Jim Riach, of Cycling Scotland. "More than this, it is an essential part of childhood. I'm sure most adults have very fond memories of their first bike and the sense of freedom and adventure that came with it."

Sedentary games such as computers are blamed for the demise of the cycling craze of the 1980s, when the popularity of BMXing reached its peak. But a subsequent underground cycling and skateboarding movement, with hundreds of online forums and chat rooms, has become mainstream and cycling among youngsters is now enjoying a revival.

Mountain biking in Scotland was also voted best in the world and is attracting rising numbers of converts of all ages. Chick Mailey opened Unit 23, an indoor extreme skate park in Dumbarton, when both his teenage sons were injured playing within three months of one another playing with their bikes on the road. Four years on, it now has more than 8000 members with youngsters travelling up to 500 miles to cycle in the controlled facility.

The centre is also credited with contributing to a 30 per cent drop in youth disorder in the local area by taking kids off the streets and giving them something to do. "When I was young, I was out on my bike everyday," said Chick. "Anything that gets kids out is great. They come here, cycle until sweat is pouring off them and they all get on, no matter where they are from." His youngest son Connor, 14, says he cycled to primary school when he was younger but his secondary school is too far away. But he still cycles with his friends or brother Chaz, 17, at every opportunity. "We go on road trips around Britain and most of my friends at school ride bikes," said Connor.

His sport is not called extreme for nothing, as Connor shows, speeding up aramp, then doing a 360-degree mid-air spin before coming down backwards. Despite the occasional injury, he always finds it easy to get back on his bike. And like many of the kids using the centre, he hopes that one day he'll be high-profile enough to gain official sponsorship for his cycling talents.

Indoor extreme cycling is far removed from a gentle bike ride outdoors, or the pleasure of being able to cycle to school safely in the morning. "But we don't have enough cycle lanes now, car drivers don't give cyclists enough room and not all school have facilities to safeguard bikes," said Connor. These are some of the main points that Cycling Scotland hopes to address in a bid to get more kids on their bikes.

Schools, in particular, most of which already offer cycle training, are being urged to improve facilities for bicycle storage. Teachers in schools across Britain have reported that pupils who walk or cycle to school are more alert and concentrate better than those who travel by car. Parents with safety concerns are encouraged to either cycle with their children, or make sure they have undergone proficiency training. Kenneth Montgomery, an environment officer with the Glasgow-based charity De'ils on Wheels, recycles old bikes with the help of local youngsters. He is also assisting a project with eight local primary schools, all aiming for eco-school status, to get children cycling to school. "Road safety is an issue whether you are walking or cycling," he said. "Motorists are unused to seeing children cycling on roads and increasing numbers will force drivers to slow down. "As long as children are aware of the risks and drivers slow down and be patient, I don't see why children shouldn't cycle to school."

In Scotland, cycling is the number one activity for children aged eight to 15 outside school PE - number one for girls and number two for boys, after football. With nearly one quarter of primary school children overweight and one in four Scots dying early as a result of diseases related to inactivity, encouraging young and old alike to do more physical exercise would have a dramatic effect on overall health.

Jim O'Donnell, of Community Can Cycle, a charity that repairs and offers reduced-price bikes for children in Castlemilk, says owning a bike should be available to all children. "I was brought up in poverty and understand that a major part of child's growing up is having a bike," he said. "And because parents cannot afford to buy bikes we set up this charity."

Thousands of bikes have been repaired for children since they opened seven years ago and he loans schools bicycles for kids doing proficiency tests. "A child cycling is learning road sense, is alert using all their sense, getting fresh air and not getting up to mischief," added Jim. 'As long as kids are aware of the risks and drivers slow down, I don't see why kids shouldn't cycle to school'

SCOTLAND has been voted by the International Mountain Bike Association as the number one MTB destination in the world and this year we will host the MTB world championships. http://www.fortwilliamworldchamps.co.uk The National Cycle Network runs throughout the country and is over 1500km in length. Much of the NCN is traffic free and there is likely to be a section near you. The website www.sustrans.org.uk has details of routes.