(Latest Safe Routes News 11.2.98.)

SPOKES, The Lothian Cycle Campaign

In March 1996 SPOKES invited Dr Joanna Cleary to speak in Edinburgh about her recently completed research project for Nottinghamshire County Council, "School Travel, Health and the Environment". Two talks were arranged, one in the evening to an audience of SPOKES members and a seminar the following morning, hosted by Lothian Regional Council, to an audience of councillors and transport, education, safety and health promotion professionals.

Following up the interest generated by these presentations, SPOKES decided to issue a challenge to all schools in Lothian to come up with ideas for increasing cycling and walking to school. The aim was to raise awareness of safe travel issues within schools and identify those schools which were particularly interested in carrying out projects.

The challenge from SPOKES, was supported by Edinburgh Health Challenge, Save the Children and Edinburgh and West Lothian Councils. Prizes were offered to schools which came up with the best ideas.

The Challenge revealed a lot of enthusiasm in many schools. Pupils carried out surveys, examined their school grounds to find safe cycle parking spots, investigated travel choices of parents, the upgrading of surrounding paths and the need for cycle proficiency training.

SPOKES Challenge winners were announced in June 1997 at Cannonball House on the Royal Mile, where the bright yellow "We Want Safe Routes" hats were seen for the first time!

Up to a fifth of peak hour traffic is caused by car journeys to school. As well as causing pollution and congestion,this traffic increases the risk of road accidents at school gates. Children who are driven to school miss out on the healthy exercise of walking or cycling to school.

 

WINNERS  Five schools in West Lothian, two in Edinburgh and one in East Lothian won prizes in the Challenge. These are some of the 150 children who brought their bikes to school on the day that Ross High in Tranent was presented with its winner's certificate.

Winning Schools

The following schools received awards in the 1997 SPOKES School Challenge

East Lothian - Ross High School (contact Bob Hunt 01875 610433)

Edinburgh - Bruntsfield Primary School BPS Safe Routes Group (contact Deborah Harris 447 2701) aims and objectives and survey results.

Royal High School (contact Kate Wheaton 336 2261)

West Lothian - James Young High School, Meldrum Primary, Linlithgow Academy, Whitburn Academy, Mid Calder Primary

(Contact Alastair Short, West Lothian Council 01506 775292 for details of West Lothian entries)

Pupils from Bruntsfield Primary School and the Royal High School ride for the L!ve TV cameras before being presented with their prizes.

Further details of the LOTHIAN SAFE ROUTES proposal.

Following the Challenge a number of developments have taken place.

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