Cycle track at Burnwood Primary School

Friday 20th June Burnwood Community School, Chell Heath staged it's own Bike Festival. The school officially opened it's phase two project, a brand new, state of the art mountain bike track. This is part of the National Bike week.

At the opening was 'Team Extreme', a BMX Roadshow from Dorset, with Nick Yarworth of British Cycling and representatives of Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

This is phase 2 of a long term vision to introduce youngsters to safe cycling. Headteacher Dianne Herbert has acted as a true ambassador for cycling.  Having won the argument on Safe Routes to School to include cycling, her school now has a cycle track, cycles, and is working with Cycling Great Britain to link the pupils to cycling initiatives. In doing so, attitudes are being transformed as pupils gain confidence and Burnwood is being heralded as a beacon of good practice. So much for the early protestations that cycling had no place in local policies.

Headteacher Diane Herbert said

"The development is part of a nature trail with an outdoor willow classroom and a mountain bike track around it.

The area was previously overgrown and covered with rubbish from fly tipping. Eon power company has provided some funding towards the nature trail and Action Earth has funded wildlife plants. Morrisons are providing refreshments.

Everyone at Burnwood Community School is very excited about the opening of phase two of our Cycle 'Tri Track'. The mountain bike trail was part designed by the pupils after they had visited and tried out the mountain bike trail at Cannock Chase. Lee Passam from Cycle Staffordshire has helped us with this project.

Over the last year we have had a great time using the velodrome, we hope the mountain bike trail will be just as much fun."

Free cycling maps are also available at tourist information centres, libraries and cycle shops or by contacting the city council on 01782 232066 or emailing transportation@stoke.gov.uk.  For local businesses, grants for installing cycling facilities are also available, please contact us on 01782 234964 or email the above.

For more information on all cycling rides and events, log on to www.stoke.gov.uk/bikeweek or www.stoke.gov.uk/cycling.