These schools will be linked with schools in
other European countries. During the
The Velo-city 2001 School Challenge is supported by The Royal Bank of Scotland
STAGE ONE REPORT
Stage One of the Velo-city 2001 School Challenge was launched in April 2000. A specially prepared briefing kit containing details of the challenge and a wide variety of background material was sent to 190 secondary schools in central Scotland (Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian, East Lothian, Fife, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and East Dunbartonshire). The Challenge was press released to all local papers in these local authority areas. Although some coverage was obtained, we will be working to obtain more detailed reporting in each area and in the educational and transport press once Stage Two schools have been confirmed. In Stage One, groups of S1 or S2 pupils (i.e. aged from 11-13) were asked to come up with ideas for projects to promote family cycling. The brief given to them was:
" We want a short report - not more than two sheets of A4 - on what you think you could try to do to encourage whole families to use bicycle more often. This could be cycling as leisure, sport or as a way of getting to school or work. You don't need to carry out any of these ideas at this stage, just think up some suggestions and describe how you would carry them out and what sort of extra help you would need. The report should be presented in an attractive manner - remember that you are trying to convince us that your ideas deserve the support needed to carry them out. It could include drawings, maps or photographs." Expressions of interest were received from eleven schools and final entries from seven schools. These entries were of a high standard, including many interesting ideas (see below for summaries). All of the schools listed below will receive a cycle workshop toolkit in recognition of their entries. Presentation sessions will be held at each school early in the 2000-2001 school year.
Full entries were received from the following schools:
Summary: Investigate suitability of existing cycle route to Dumbarton Castle to consider how it could be publicised to encourage more people to use the route. Their exploratory trip took place on a very wet day, and they came back with lots of ideas on how the route could be promoted.
Summary: Initial investigation into ways in which cycling facilities in the West End of Glasgow could be improved to encourage cycling, including extension of the "Nature Walk" cycle trail.
Summary: Their initial study indicated a need for cycle lanes and other facilities around the school, particularly on the motorway crossing near the school. Secure cycle parking is required at the school and they have proposed some initial ideas for a 'cool and modern' cycle shed. Their project ideas include a cycle awareness campaign, a school cycle club and renovation or replacement of a local BMX track
Summary: Building on the existing school cycle campaign, the "Two Wheels Good" project will use posters and compressed email messages to get the message across. A series of images or digital photos or even mini-videos will be created that people will mail to all their friends and contacts in a 'snowball' media campaign. They are getting help from an advertising agency and have already come up with some ideas for images, which will have to be tested before launching the campaign.
Summary: A school assembly session would be used to present ideas on why it is important to cycle and highlight the existing school facilities. This would be followed by a school-wide competition between form classes to encourage as many people as possible to cycle to school (including teachers) and a fun family cycle day involving local primary school with lots of cycle events and competitions. These events and other related ideas would require some eye catching publicity.
Summary: Amongst the ideas submitted by the two groups of Earnock pupils are a cycling road show to visit schools and youth clubs, development of more local cycle paths, promotion of existing cycle facilities, publicity leaflets and a campaign on the local radio station.
Summary: Having looked at the various barriers to cycling, they suggest the construction of cycle routes linking towns to places of interest such as lochs, castles and rural areas, encouraging bike hire and providing car parking near cycle routes, forming school cycling clubs, organising cycle rides and publicising the health and environmental benefits of cycling to work and to school.
STAGE TWO Meetings will be held with the Challenge Team at each school early in the Autumn 2000 term school session to discuss how they can carry out the projects and what resources will be needed. Local cycling officers, the Scottish Cycle Development Project and Sustrans will be involved with these meetings. Contact will be made by email with schools in other parts of the world at this stage to build up a network of contacts. European Cyclist's Federation groups and delegates at the Velomondiale 2000 conference have given valuable assistance in making links with schools that will be interested in cycle development projects. As well as discussing what work has to be done, the Teams will be asked how they intend to evaluate the success of their ideas and what use they intend to make of the links with European schools. Following these meetings each school will be asked to sign an agreement detailing the amount of work they intend to put in and the support they require from outside bodies. All schools will be encouraged to contribute to the Outreach section of the Velo-city 2001 web site during the year to report on their progress, and they will be expected to produce a final report by June 2001. There will be also be an opportunity to discuss the School Challenge at the Sustrans Scottish Safe Routes to School conference in Glasgow on September 4th, which will include a session on the Velo-city 2001 School Challenge.
STAGE THREE Results from the Challenge will be reported at a plenary session of the Velo-city 2001 conference and the school pupils may also be invited to take part in workshop sessions in the "Mobility of Children and Young People" track. Reporting sessions will also be arranged in participating schools, at which conference speakers and members of the school Challenge Teams will present their findings. Reports from the Challenge will also be published in the proceedings of the conference, and there may be opportunities to publish some material separately as a guide to ideas and good practice in promoting school and family cycling. July 2000
Ian Maxwell, 5 St Mark's Place, Edinburgh phone: 0131 556 3899 or mobile 07887 500 557 email:imaxwell@gn.apc.org |
Velo-city 2001 Conference Organisers
0141 434 1500 Fax 434 1519
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