Schools encouraged to take part in the ‘Big Walk and Wheel’
Thursday, 9 March 2023
Pupils, teachers, and parents across Central Bedfordshire are being encouraged to walk, wheel, or jump on their bikes and scooters for the 2023 Big Walk and Wheel schools challenge.
With the support of sustainable transport charity Sustrans, we're promoting the national school challenge, which runs from Monday 20 March to Friday 31 March.
Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel will inspire pupils to make active journeys to school, improve air quality where they live, and help them to discover how these changes benefit their world.
The challenge is open to all schools, it’s free to take part and there are daily prizes to be won. The idea is to persuade pupils, teachers, and parents to leave their cars at home and choose active travel for their school journey.
Councillor Steven Dixon, our Executive Member for Sustainability and Public Protection, said:
The Big Walk and Wheel is a fantastic challenge as it encourages children and young people to keep active. This reduces the number of cars on Central Bedfordshire roads which will ease congestion around schools, improve air quality, help address climate change, and offer health and well-being benefits.
The challenge should inspire families to leave their cars at home and make more sustainable journeys to school. I’m looking forward to getting on my bike again this year and I encourage all schools to sign up and join me. Let’s leave our cars at home more and do our bit for our planet.
Last year, 43 schools from Central Bedfordshire took part in the challenge, with families amassing 56,471 walking, scooter, and cycle trips during the 10-day challenge. This was a fantastic achievement and a target to beat this year. All schools in Central Bedfordshire are invited to sign up for The Big Walk and Wheel challenge.