Bike It
Stockport and Rochdale
Nes Brierley works as a Bike It officer in 7 schools across Stockport and Rochdale.
Nes has set up Bike It groups in all of her schools. She works with around ten pupils from each of the schools, having regular meetings to decide on and organise events. She decided that this was essential in order for Bike It in schools to be as 'grassroots' and sustainable as possible.
The children have full participation in all aspects of organising the events and therefore feel ownership of the Bike It project. They work together to identify the barriers to cycling specific to their school and think of ways to overcome them. Not only does this give the project legitimacy but it also means that the young people learn organisational and interpersonal skills. They are also able to feel empowered; as they learn of the problems around transport - such as climate change and health problems - they are also actively doing something to change it.
She has organised a variety of activities, including Bike to School days, cycle skills sessions and bike maintenance courses. At Brookside Primary she helped the children to write and perform their own show that highlights the barriers to cycling and tells of ways to overcome them!
Nes has also launched a postcard competition between her schools in both Rochdale and Stockport whereby the pupils have to draw the front and write a story on the back all about the fun with bikes they've been having or wish they could have had over the summer holidays. In September she will choose two winners from each school and an overall winner. The winning postcards from each school will then be exhibited in the National Cycling Centre where thousands of cycling fans and Olympic cyclists will be able to see them.
Nes' schools for 2008/9:
Rochdale:
- Little Heaton Church of England Primary School
- St Edwards Church of England Primary School
- Shawclough Community Primary School
Stockport:
- Brookside Primary School
- Dial Park Primary School
- Offerton School
- Orrishmere Primary School
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External link: Sustrans website
External link: Bike It project pages
