Worcester pupils and parents celebrate Cycle to School Week

Group bike rides in aid of safer cycling conditions - called Kidical Mass events - took place in Worcester on Sunday (September 24) and 33 other towns and cities across the UK, the most ever held in a single weekend.

Cycle to School Week runs from September 25-29 and encourages families to choose the eco-friendly, economical way of getting to class.

Cyclist make their way past the Alma Tavern (Image: Josh Neicho)

Worcester now has 10 Bike Bus routes to primary schools - groups of children and parents cycling together, with volunteer leaders at the back and front to ensure safe departure and crossings.

Hannah Faddy-Wiedmann, a maths teacher and mother-of-two who leads one route, said: “It’s a positive thing to do - it’s not just moaning. Here’s a small change we’ve made, even within the constraints.”

Salon owner Georgie Robinson got back into cycling for the first time since she was at school so she could accompany her six-year-old on his new bike.

READ MORE: Davenports new pub in Worcester to be called The King's Arms

“I really enjoy it,” she said. “The Bike Bus helped with confidence - I realised I didn't know how to use gears properly. It’s nice that you meet together, encourage each other and help.”

Georgie thinks staff at the salon have had their minds opened to cycling because she’s taken it up – but she won’t cycle into work yet because the roads feel too hostile.

Cyclists celebrate Cycle to School Week (Image: Josh Neicho)

Alex Mace, who leads the Bike Bus to St. Barnabas C of E Primary, said: “My boys think it’s a really fun way to start the school day, cycling to school with their friends and have even nicknamed it the Barna-bus.”

The St Barnabus Bike Bus was even featured on the One Show earlier this month.

Rob Collier is the secretary of Bike Worcester and runs the North Worcester Primary Bike Bus with wife Kate.

He said: “Whether it's physical health, mental health, pollution, loneliness, cost of living - there aren't many problems a bike ride won't at least help.

“Bike Bus and Kidical Mass really prove the demand for cycling, and it's only scratching the surface. Some families can't find a safe and easy route to where the Bike Buses start - even more people would cycle if we had safer infrastructure.”

Bike Buses now operate to and from seven Worcester schools: North Worcester Primary Academy, St Georges RC Primary School, St. Barnabas C of E Primary, Redhill Primary, Nunnery Wood Primary, St. Georges C of E Primary and Honeywell Primary School.