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Children encourage others to join school Bike Bus

Chris CraddockJersey communities reporter
BBC A group of children and adults cycle together along a residential street. The riders wear helmets and high‑visibility vests, and the scene appears to be part of an organised bike‑bus or school cycling activity on a sunny day.BBC
Dorota rides into school with the scheme once a week and said it was "a fun thing to do with friends"

Children who have signed up to a school Bike Bus scheme are encouraging others to take part.

Sinead Peacock-Brennan and her husband set up the scheme at Grouville School in Jersey to help youngsters become confident by cycling into school as well as helping them stay active.

They were given training and support by Jersey Sport to ensure the children are as safe as possible while riding on the roads.

Dorota, 9, who is among those who have signed up for the weekly scheme, said: "I think it's quite fun being outside in the morning," adding: "I feel more energised."

Dorota is wearing a white polo shirt, blue cardigan, and a backpack stands outdoors near a school building. Several bicycles are parked in the background on a sunny day.
Dorota thinks more children should join the Grouville Bike Bus

She continued: "I'm with a lot of people so I feel safe around the cars because I've got a high-vis and I'm with people I trust to keep me safe."

The Bike Bus starts at St Clement's Parish Church before it makes its way around Le Clos des Fonds to Grouville School.

Sinead has braided hair and stands on a grassy area with bare trees and houses behind them. She is wearing a checked coat and a backpack under a bright blue sky.
Sinead Peacock-Brennan was inspired by the success of a similar scheme in the west of the island

Peacock-Brennan started the Bike Bus after seeing the success of a similar scheme for Les Landes School in the west of the island called Crocodile Cycle.

She said: "I think there's quite a lot of barriers to families thinking about cycling to school.

"One of the benefits of the bike bus is that when you're cycling as a group you feel a bit safer.

"I think it's great for kids mental health as well as their physical health plus I think it's great for parents too.

"I think for the community more broadly too because there's less cars on the road, less congestion, it's better air quality, so there's a lot of benefits."

Nicola stands on a path beside a school building, wearing a red cardigan and a colourful patterned scarf. The background shows grass, trees, and outdoor play or garden items in bright sunlight.
Grouville School head teacher Nicola Turner said there were positives to the Bike Bus schemes and other schools should consider running their own

Grouville School head teacher Nicola Turner has seen the positive effects of the Bike Bus.

She said: "We've been actively campaigning for safer routes to school for quite a while."

She also described getting the Bike Bus as "amazing news".

"There's been a lovely buzz watching the bike bus arrive each week and the children who participated have been really happy, enthusiastic, really energised by their bike ride here to school," she added.

"I think there's many opportunities for it across the island and we're really grateful to Jersey Sport as well because they've supported us every step of the way".

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