Safe cycling for youngsters.

22 Apr, 2006

Transport for London (TfL) has organized a competition to promote safe cycling among children. The Cycle Safer Challenge is divided into three categories: designing a piece of cycle safety equipment, creating a poster on cycle safety and a class project on how to make schools more cycle-friendly. The competition is open to Londons primary school pupils in Year 4 and 5; prizes include six mountain bikes. Entries close on 30 April. For information see www.cycleshow.co.uk.

The number of recorded cycle journeys on Londons main roads has doubled to 119,000 a week over the past five years, while accidents involving cyclists have fallen by 40 percent. Over the same period TfL has upgraded more than 300 km of cycle paths and invested 390,000 in Bike It, a project to encourage more children to cycle to school. TfL also operates a Junior Road Safety Officer scheme.