Release Date: 23/06/2008
Healthy drinks were high on the menu when the Mayor of Richmond, Cllr Helen Lee-Parsons, joined pupils at St Catherine’s School in Twickenham to try out a smoothie making bicycle last week.
The bike, which powers a blender, is just one of the features of ‘Cyclicious’, a pilot scheme that aims to encourage more students to cycle to school.
It has been funded by Richmond Council and Transport for London (TfL).
In addition to the smoothie bike, Council staff have run workshops about the benefits of cycling and cycle safety at St Catherine’s.
Pupils have also each been given a cycle-odometer which enables them to calculate the number of miles they have cycled. Prizes will be awarded to those who have travelled the furthest.
Those who live either too close or too far away to cycle to school can build up miles in their spare time or use a pedometer to track how far they have walked.
Those who walk have been set the challenge of 10,000 steps a day.
If successful the pilot scheme may be extended to other schools around the borough.
The Mayor, Cllr Helen Lee-Parsons, said:
“The smoothie bike was superb fun and a great way to build enthusiasm for cycling.
“It is fantastic to see the girls, their parents and teachers really get behind the scheme.
“I hope many continue cycling over the summer holidays and into the future.”
Richmond Council’s Cabinet Member for Traffic, Transport and Parking, Cllr David Trigg, added:
’Cyclicious’ is an excellent initiative. We aim to reduce congestion and pollution caused during the school run and getting more children to cycle will certainly help this, as well as boosting their overall health and fitness.”
For more information about the scheme contact Mark Rowland on 020 8891 7944