During the Big Pedal fortnight, the UK’s largest inter-school active travel competition, schools across Wales made a total of 110,000 active journeys. 28,000 pupils at 101 schools in Wales took part in walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling to school, saving an estimate of 190,000 car trips.
Taliesin Lewis-Williams, a pupil at Ysgol Gynradd Llanllechid, North Wales, enjoying the cycle to school.
Big Pedal success
The distance travelled actively by schools during the 2021 Big Pedal is the equivalent of one trip to the moon or six trips around the world.
So to celebrate, we're showcasing the Big Pedal achievements of our Active Journeys Schools in each region of Wales.
Our Active Journeys programme in Wales is helping children across the country to safely, easily and confidently travel to school by foot, bike and scooter.
Applications for our programme (cohort beginning September 2021) are now open.
North West Wales
Ysgol Gynradd Llanllechid, Gwynedd has shown enthusiasm whilst taking part in our Active Journeys Programme, including Big Pedal.
Pupils totalled an impressive 1,424 active journeys during the 5-Day Challenge.
These active journeys would not be possible without the support and commitment from parents and guardians.
One pupil, Tal, pictured above, cycled an inspiring 20 miles to and from school during Big Pedal week.
We caught up with Tal’s dad and asked him why he and his son love to travel actively to school together.
North East Wales
Bryn Deva school in Flintshire have been working hard on our Active Journeys Programme since 2018.
This year, despite the challenges, they organised a Walk-to-School Week.
nd until the end of term, every pupil who travels actively to school is entered into a prize draw.
Bryn Deva topped the Big Pedal leader board for the 1-day challenge in Wales, with an incredible 93.99% of journeys travelled actively.
Bryn Deva have also, alongside 5 other schools across the UK been chosen as winners of the Big Pedal renaming competition.
This week, our Active Journeys officer for North East Wales delivered a virtual puncture repair workshop, for KS2 pupils.
This session helped develop skills and boost pupils' confidence to maintain their bikes ready for the school run.
South Central Wales
Afon y Felin Primary school in Bridgend have shown commitment to active travel since 2014.
Parents and pupils cut car-use on the journey to school by more than half over three years of working on the Active Journeys Programme.
Baseline data showed 40.5% of pupils travelled to school by car, reducing to just 17.2% 3 years later.
Only a small number of pupils owned bikes when we first started working with the school, but this hasn’t deterred pupils from walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling the school run.
During the 5-Day Big Pedal challenge, an impressive 90.4% of journeys were travelled actively.
This is a fantastic achievement by pupils, parents and school staff.
A huge 110,000 active journeys were made by schools in Wales as part of Big Pedal 2021.
Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, Machynlleth took part in this year’s Big Pedal competition, completing a total of 1,823 amazing active journeys.
Having been part of our Active Journeys Programme since 2018, their hard work walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling to school is a great example for schools across Wales.
Taking responsibility for our environment
Assistant Head Teacher Haf Ap Robert reflects on the competition:
“Taking part in the Big Pedal has raised awareness amongst the children, staff and parents of the alternative possibilities for travelling to school.
“There is so much to gain and enjoy through healthy journeys.
“Taking part provided the staff with another means for praising children's effort and opportunity to become healthy and confident individuals.
“I believe that the campaign awakens a sense of responsibility towards the environment and that it fosters principled and informed citizens here in Bro Hyddgen.
“We are extremely grateful to our Active Journeys Officer for supporting the school with the campaign by providing useful and fun workshops and checking over 100 during a Dr Bike session”.
South East Wales
Ty’n Y Wern Primary in Trethomas have kept busy during Big Pedal, completing a number of events during the competition including Dr Bike, Scooter Skills and Bling Your Ride.
The Big Pedal week also saw Ty’n Y Wern achieve the silver Active Travel School Award.
The award highlights the school's commitment to promoting active and sustainable travel.
This then brings about organisational, cultural and behavioural changes which help the school community choose active travel for the school run.
83.56% of journeys were travelled actively during the challenge.
And our Active Journeys Officer for South East Wales is looking forward to supporting more great achievements in the future.
Bike to School Week is back and takes place from 27 September to 1 October 2021. Find out how you can get involved.