Holloway Secondary School, London Borough of Islington
Monday, November 1, 2010
What are they doing? Pupils at Holloway Secondary School have been taking part in a new bike club thanks to funding from Islington Council. Since the club launched in April, the school has been loaning bikes and helmets to students and offering free cycle training sessions.
The young people are also provided with personalised maps, plotting safe cycle routes to and from school, as well as locks to keep their bikes secure when not in use.
How is it going? Doreen Blake has two sons at Holloway School, both of whom are members of the bike club. "This is a great project," she says. "My sons are cycling to school most days and are getting fitter and gaining more confidence and experience on the road. It's amazing that they have been offered bikes to use by the school."
Anything else? Due to the success of the scheme, Islington's road safety team is now working with two other local schools to develop similar clubs. Islington Council's lead member for children and young people, Richard Watts, says: "The bike club means that students who might not be able to afford a bike or equipment of their own can still enjoy all the benefits of cycling to school. Schemes like this help to make Islington a fairer place for everyone."
