Bike to School Week is running from Monday 27 September to 1 October and to mark the occasion, Councillor Josh Blacker, cabinet member for healthier lives, visited the Uxbridge Road to get a first-hand look at how the council’s active travel schemes are making a difference in the area.

Councillor Blacker tested out a cycle lane that has now been made permanent by the council. Like a number of these cycle lanes now operating in the borough, it uses wands to keep cyclists and vehicles separated, making riding a bike safer, easier and more pleasant.

Bike to School Week is a programme of activities in schools aimed at encouraging children and their parents to cycle or scoot to school.

These active travel options provide an alternative to shorter car journeys, which we must reduce drastically as part of tackling the climate crisis.

Cycling and scooting has also been proven to improve students’ behaviour and concentration, and reducing traffic created by the school run can also cut congestion and improve air quality near schools and across the borough.

Councillor Blacker said: “It is Bike to School Week this Monday, which is a great opportunity to celebrate cycling and scooting, as well as the positive effects of active travel on physical wellbeing and the environment.

“As a parent, my first concern is my daughter’s safety. That is why I am delighted to say we are making a number of cycle lanes in the borough permanent following consultation with local residents and businesses.

“It is all part of our ambitious commitment to active travel, which includes not only these cycle routes, but School Streets, 24-hour bus lanes and two permanent low traffic neighbourhoods to make active travel more accessible and easier for everyone.

“During Bike to School Week and beyond, make sure you take advantage of these new cycle routes, crossings, direction signs and other improvements and enjoy a safer, healthier and more enjoyable journey to and from school.”

The council is also working to introduce five new School Streets this autumn, on top of the 10 now  in place permanently as it looks to make it safer and easier for children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

School Streets act as designated areas around schools with some restrictions on traffic at drop off and pick up times helps to achieve a safer, more pleasant and environmentally-friendly experience for children and parents travelling to and from school.