Cycling and walking to school

🚴 Want to cycle with your kids to school?

Everyone can learn how to ride a bike, whatever their age.

• TfGM offers free one-to-one and family cycle confidence training sessions across Greater Manchester

• TfGM also offers free cycle training for adults - including courses for complete beginners or those looking to build confidence on two wheels

• Bikeability cycle training programme available across the UK for children and adults

• If you’re looking for a new bike there are lots of bike shops – independents and national chains to choose from. Here’s a directory of bike shops open across Greater Manchester to get you started.

• For those with a smaller budget, second-hand could be the way to go, and environmentally friendly too! Cycling UK has a handy guide with lots of suggestions on where to look or try these local suppliers.

• If your bike is gathering dust in the shed and needs a bit of TLC to make it roadworthy, Cycling UK’s Get Fixed Up scheme is providing pop-up Dr Bike sessions nationwide to help get people’s bikes back to working order.

• The Fix-your-bike voucher scheme is available to anyone who has an unused bike in need of a repair, up to the value of £50. The scheme has been hugely popular and all the vouchers in the first batch have been allocated. Keep an eye out for the next lot of vouchers to be released

🛴 Walking, cycling and ‘scootering’ tips

• Plan ahead and work out your walking route beforehand. Now is a great time to teach children about journey planning. For example, visit Google Maps to plan your route. Go into ‘street view’ mode so your children can spot familiar sights on the route to school!

• There’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes! With waterproofs, wellies and umbrellas at the ready, walking in the rain isn’t a chore anymore, and perhaps you’ll have fun jumping in the puddles!

• Make sure your child’s bag is not too heavy, this will make walking or scooting seem harder.

• If you’ve not walked or scooted to school before, try it before the first day of school so you know how long it will take.

• When small feet drag, keep kids entertained on the walk by making up games or spotting things on the way. Living Streets has lots of good ideas in their #walkingfromhome activity pack and a walk-to-school toolkit

🏞️ Explore your local area and different routes to school!

Plan ahead and work out your walking or cycling route beforehand. Now is a great time to learn more about journey planning and reading maps. For example, visit:

• Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, has put together some useful information and advice to help you plan your travel.

• Cycle Streets journey planner can help you plan cycle routes, choosing the quietest streets away from busy roads. Or use their new mobile phone app.

• Get to and from school on cycle-friendly routes.