Barnsley Pupils Get On Their Bikes With Warburtons

School children from Barnsley can get on their bikes and travel to school safely thanks to a donation from Warburtons, the family bakers.

The family bakers has provided two brand new bikes with safety equipment to Barnsley Council as the grand prizes in a competition among primary and secondary schools throughout the area.

High visibility tabards and specially created Use Your Loaf packs have also been donated to be used as part of the councils School Travel Plans initiative.

A School Travel Plan is a document aimed at helping reduce car usage by parents, carers and staff by helping make other forms of travel easier and safer, such as cycling and walking. Nearly two-thirds of Barnsley schools now have a travel plan, and it is expected all of them will have one by 2010. Only those schools who already have a School Travel Plan are eligible for the competition.

So far in the borough, school travel plans have:

• Reduced the number of cars arriving at school by 4.51%
• Increased the number of pupils walking to school by 1.96%
• Increased bus use by 2.14%
• Increased cycling by 0.34%

Sue Walker, Travel Plan Coordinator for Barnsley Council, said: We are actively encouraging pupils to cycle to school rather than get a lift in a car, which is why we decided to hold a prize draw.

She added: In addition, several of our schools have Walking bus schemes so the high visibility jackets will be greatly appreciated as it is important that the students are visible and safe on the street.

Sales Manager for Warburtons, Tom Sugden said: Health and safety is fundamental to our business and something that we are keen to promote to the wider community.  We hope that this donation will help Barnsley pupils stay safe and bright. 

For further information on School Travel Plans or about the Warburtons competition, contact Sue Walker on 01226 772618.

ENDS

Issued by Gary Gerrard, press office, 01226 773443, email:garygerrard@barnsley.gov.uk