Lincs: Pupils are being encouraged to get on their bikes to school for competition

Every time a child, parent or teacher bikes to school, they earn virtual kilometres which are added to their 9,000km online journey.

The first school to earn 9,000 points wins.

The Big Bike Race starts on Monday 10th November for three weeks until Friday 28th November, but schools may reach the end of the race sooner.

Last year, nearly 15,000 pupils from 64 schools took part in The Big Bike Race, which is organised by the transportation team at Lincolnshire County Council.

Executive Councillor for Highways and Transportation at Lincolnshire County Council, Coun Richard Davies, said: “Children are often very keen to walk or cycle to school, but it’s difficult if parents perceive driving as ‘easier’ and ‘quicker’.”

“The Big Bike Race encourages parents to leave the car at home and walk, cycle or scoot to school with their children.”

To ensure that every school has an equal chance of winning The Big Bike Race, the number of kilometres each bike earns depends on the size of the school.

For example if your child attends a small school, each bike will be worth more kilometres than a child’s bike at a larger school.

The aim of the Big Bike Race is to get approximately 20 per cent of pupils cycling each day.

The top three schools will win a new cycle or scooter pod and Gold, Silver and Bronze prize certificates.

All schools who complete the route will receive a framed participation certificate.

There are four different races which you can take part in throughout the year and other distances include to the moon and back and from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Register your school for free at www.bigbikerace.co.uk or for more information contact Lisa Jefferson at Lincolnshire County Council on 01522 782 070 or email [email protected].