Bicycle shed puts pedal power first

The opening of the new cycle shed in the past few weeks has encouraged more children to use their bikes to get to and from lessons. More are expected to return to the traditional means of transport as the weather improves.

Among the first to take advantage of the new secure area for her cycle is Alice Bugeja (11) who rides the mile to school with her neighbour, Melissa Brooks (10).

'I cycle in every day if it's not raining,' said Alice. 'It takes about 15 minutes. This cycle shed is really good. It is much more secure than the old one and more practical.'

Melissa said: 'With the old shed, if it rained during the day, it would come in on our bikes. That doesn't happen with new one.'

Fellow cyclist Christelle Nunnikhoven (10) makes the five- minute journey by cycle from her home most days. She said: 'The new cycle shed looks more attractive than the old one.'

The new storage area has room for about 80 cycles compared to the 20 or so in the original shed.

The replacement was ordered at a cost of 19,000 by headteacher Tony Storey as part of the school's Travelplan to reduce congestion and improve safety around its busy Raleigh Road premises before and after lessons.

His concerns and those of councillors and residents about conditions in the road, particularly at the end of school days, have been reported in the Observer.

'I have noticed an increase in the number of pupils cycling to school since the new cycle shed was opened,' he said. Some 30 children used their bikes to get to school on fine days last week.

This reflects a trend which began last year. Informal surveys of the school's 362 pupils saw the number cycling rise from three per cent to 10pc between spring 2005 and last autumn. Those walking to lessons went up from 25pc to 33pc. Travelling by car declined from 72pc to 58pc.

'The safety of pupils is our prime concern,' said Mr Storey, 'rather than the health and fitness they get from cycling to school. But the more children who use their bikes to get to school the more we should reduce the amount of traffic around the school. The safer the road becomes, the more parents will be willing to let their children cycle to school.'

Alice added: 'We know cycling to school keeps us healthy and it's just good fun. Me and Melissa see each other every morning and can talk before we get to school.'