With the support of sustainable transport charity Sustrans, we're promoting the national school challenge, which runs from Monday 24 March to Friday 4 April.
Now in its sixteenth year, Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel encourages pupils to choose active travel for their school commute, helping to improve local air quality and helping them to discover how these changes benefit their world.
The challenge is open to all schools, it’s free to take part, and offers exciting prizes. The idea is to persuade pupils, teachers, and parents to leave their cars at home and choose active travel for their school journey.
Councillor Tracey Wye, our Executive Member for Sustainability and Climate Resilience, said:
The Big Walk and Wheel is a brilliant way to motivate children and young people to stay active. It reduces the number of cars on Central Bedfordshire roads which will ease congestion around schools and improve air quality. It also helps to address climate change whilst benefiting overall health and wellbeing.
The challenge should inspire families to leave their cars at home and make more sustainable journeys to school. Let’s leave our cars at home more and do our bit for our planet.
Last year, 40 schools from Central Bedfordshire took part in the challenge, with families amassing 47,806 walking, scooting, and cycling trips over the course of the two-week challenge. This was a fantastic achievement and a target to beat this year. All lower/primary and middle schools in Central Bedfordshire are invited to sign up for The Big Walk and Wheel challenge.