PR Company Bosses Lead 20-Child Pedal Posse To Show Council That Cycling To School Is Unsafe – Forbes

Adam and Aurélie Tranter led a group of 20 pedal-powered children on a ride to school in Kenilworth, England, on October 11. The Tranter’s were inspired to create this “school cycling bus” after they started ferrying their twin boys to school on an electric cargobike, and other parents asked if they could join in.

The couple own Fusion Media, a cycling-focused communications agency, working with brands such as Brompton Bicycle, Evans Cycles, and the Tour de France.

And, as PR professionals, they have been able to get a supportive quote for their initiative from Olympic track cycling champion, Sir Chris Hoy, who said: “Cycling to school is an amazing way for children to keep fit and be focused in the classroom. I remember cycling to school as a lad, and without my childhood love of cycling, I’d not have achieved the success I did.”

The couple also succeeded in getting six local councilors to join the ride to St Augustine’s School, which they hope will encourage Kenilworth Town Council to make streets safe for cycling and without the need for parental supervision.

According to the school’s latest travel census, 81% of the children are driven to school each day.

In The Netherlands, children cycle to school by themselves from an early age, thanks, in great part, to protected cycleways.

“The size of Kenilworth makes it perfect for short cycling journeys, yet 68% of car journeys in the U.K. are under 5 miles, and staggeringly 24% of car trips nationally are under a mile,” said Adam Tranter.

He wanted councilors to find out first hand the many physical and mental factors that deter cycling in Kenilworth, especially for children.

“Planning the route was very difficult and has taken a lot of time and consideration,” he stressed.

“Kenilworth’s cycle network is patchy, at best, and there are many needless barriers that stop people from considering cycling for their everyday journeys.”