Ask any parent of school aged children what their most stressful time of the day is, and the answer is likely to involve the school run. It’s a never-ending cycle of getting the kids up, dressed, fed, and out of the house in time for the school bell. Not only do you have small people to contend with, but who knew they needed so much stuff too: packed lunches, PE kits, homework, healthy snacks, forest school wellies, show and tell treasures or, the dreaded class mascot you had to entertain all weekend.
With all that going on, choosing how to get to school, especially cycling to school, is often given little thought… and that’s totally fair. But instead of piling into the car or bus, what if there’s another option? One that might seem unrealistic at first, but when given some thought actually makes a lot of sense. During my kids’ time at primary school, I have made a conscious effort to cycle to school whenever possible. Cycling to school with kids can feel daunting at first, but the more you do it, the easier and more it becomes. Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean every day, especially if the Welsh weather is in full force. But when I’m tempted to pick up the car keys, I try to ask myself, do I really need to do this journey by car? Sometimes a little pause is all it takes to change the plan.
Big Walk and Wheel Week
Every year the Wheel Walk Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans) runs the national ‘Big Walk and Wheel Week’ encouraging families to walk, scoot or cycle to school over 1-2 weeks. In 2024, over 561,000 pupils took part, logging more than 2.3 million active journeys (Sustrans, 2024). According to some better qualified statisticians than me, that’s roughly equivalent to 14 round trips to the moon. And here’s the big impact from that figure, if those journeys had been made by car, it’s estimated they would have produced around 1.7 million kg of CO2 emissions; roughly enough to fill over 8000 busses (Sustrans, 2024).
It’s not the only initiative either, the Bikeability Trust runs ‘Cycle to School Week‘ each autumn; a similar week-long challenge encouraging families to swap car journeys for cycling; helping to build confidence on the school run and have a bit of fun along the way.
Children are rewarded by their school for participating; every journey earns points, and points make…kudos for the winning class. Last year, I challenged my kids to cycle to school every day during that fortnight. Here’s what we learned.
Why Cycling to School Works
It’s fun!
We all remember the joy of riding a bike as kids. There’s nothing better than getting to experience that again whilst also seeing that same joy in your children. We’re lucky enough to have a couple of route options to choose from, one that’s super muddy through the woods and one that sticks to the main road. Giving my kids that choice helps them take ownership of the morning and varies the journey, keeping it more exciting. Cycling their chosen route generates smiles and laughter that you just don’t get from a car journey.
**Pro Tip** Waterproofs will stop the mud coating their uniforms and getting them in trouble with their teacher – we learned that the hard way!
Everyone gets healthier and stronger
We live around a mile away from school. That’s doable, even from reception age. It will be slow going at first, but it will get easier the more you do it, as stamina improves. Setting small challenges along the way can help, and make sure to leave plenty of time for the journey (including ‘rest stops’).
Cycling Switches Their Brains On
My kids claim they don’t like school. I’m not convinced, but in the mornings at least, there are 100 things they would rather be doing than going. They often start the ride grumpy, but after a few minutes you can see a notable difference in their mood. It’s a great way to clear their minds and transition them from being at home to being ready to focus at school. Studies have shown that children who regularly walk, ride or scoot to school are 8% more alert up to 4 hours after arriving at school, compared to those than those who are driven by car (Rospa, 2024).
Independence
Now they’re older, we cycle to school on the road. It can be intimidating at first, but it’s an amazing experience when you crack it. I hope when they’re older, they’ll continue to cycle and I know from riding with them, that they have the knowledge and experience to tackle the roads safely and confidently. Through my work at Drosi and delivering Bikeability training, I see first-hand how much confidence cycling can build. I hope all these factors will be extra piece of mind when the time comes for them to do it solo!
Others start to notice
Although we’re still in the minority, more families are choosing to cycle to school since we started. Each family represents one less car at the school gates, which is less congestion and generally a healthier environment for our kids to go into every morning. A completely unexpected bonus has been the community response. Pedestrians always smile and say hello as we pass. It starts conversations and has led to us getting to know many of our ‘neighbours’ using the same space.
Quality time
But by far, the absolute best outcome from my perspective, is our shared rides home. The journey by car is too quick to get any detail from “Tell me about your day” beyond, “it was ok” or “nothing happened”. You will be amazed what gets shared on a ride home from school. Suddenly, they remember something funny that happened to them during the day, or they’re proud to tell me how their maths test went or that they had pasta for lunch that was “the best they’ve ever had” (rude!). That ride is the definition of ‘quality time’ and it’s turned the monotonous school run into being one of my favourite times of the day.
Practical Tips For Cycling to School
Choose bikes and helmets that fit
If it’s uncomfortable or feels unsafe, your kids won’t want to do it and then persuading them to do so just becomes another task every morning. Kids outgrow bikes ridiculously fast so purchasing a good quality second hand bike can help keep costs down. Always try before you buy! Any reputable bike shop will help you set your bike up so it’s comfortable and suitable for your/their riding style. Helmets should be encouraged, especially for children. They don’t have to be expensive; all helmets that meet UK standards will be marked with ‘CE’, meaning you know it’s passed strict safety testing. Anything beyond that is cosmetic and that’s where prices can start to vary.
Plan the route together
The route you chose to ride will not necessarily be the route you would choose to drive. Traffic-free paths will always be preferred but if that’s not possible, stick to quieter roads and paths. Yes, I know riding on footpaths is illegal but no one is going to tell a small child off for riding on a pavement – you can always ride alongside them on the road. Here in North Wales, the Llangollen canal is a great traffic-free option.
Make it varied
If it’s different and fun, you’re all more likely to stick to it. Play games along the way, sing songs, set challenges and offer rewards. Our Friday rides home nearly always involve a detour to the local shop for some sugar-loaded treats.
Build confidence
If riding anywhere with traffic is daunting (and i totally get that!) then start with a practice ride at the weekend when you’re not time pressured and traffic is likely to be quieter. Riding traffic-free routes to start will let you know your child’s cycling capabilities. When they’re confident enough, progress to quiet roads in estates or back roads. Build up to town traffic only when you’re both ready. If you’re nervous, your child is likely to be also. The bikeability trust offers family specific sessions which can help build confidence when out riding together. Check out their website for some impactful tips or contact your local provider for more information. Alternatively, riding with friends or in a group can have a massive impact on confidence. The ‘cycle bus’ initiative is taking off big time across the UK, with many schools running one. Here in Llangollen, the cycle bus runs every Friday. It ‘picks up’ families from a number of stops across the town before heading up the hill to the two local primary schools.
Bigger Picture
Beyond our own family experiences, active travel, like cycling to school or walking isn’t just a morning activity. It’s also part of building healthier habits for you, and your children as they grow. Building better communities comes with it too, and shows the need for improved cycling infrastructure, so kids can move around their communities safely and have happier places to live. It also helps reduce local pollution and makes the air we breathe healthier for everyone. It just happens that alongside all that, it’s super fun and might end up being your favourite part of the day.
Whether it’s cycling the kids to school, heading to work, or just heading out for a quick evening ride, Big Walk and Wheel Week 2026 (16–27 March) is a great excuse to get your bike out and see where it will take you.
Useful links
Big walk and wheel week
Walk, Wheel, Cycle Trust (formally Sustrans)
Bikeability Trust
Denbighshire Leisure (bikeability provider for Denbighshire)
Seiclo Clwyd (bikeability provider for Wrexham and Flintshire)
Learn Cycling (bikeability provider for Shropshire)
Llangollen cycle bus
Llangollen cycle route suggestions
Written by Ceri, part of the team at Drosi Bikes. Often behind the scenes, but you might have seen her in the workshop or delivering one of the Dr Bike or Women’s DIY sessions. When she’s not there, she’s usually out on her bike, delivering bikeability training locally or riding with her two children.