Grovetown School - Project Pedal Power Model
Summary
This case study looks at a small South Island school where the children have gone out to the community and gained support to transform their school into a safe year-round cycling haven. There is strong potential for the model to easily roll out to other schools to increase participation in cycling.
The project started at Grovetown School near Blenheim, (roll, just 50), when in a move to encourage the pupils to be more active, they were surveyed about what physical activity they most wanted to do.
The came up with cycling, and Project Pedal Power was born. A school triathlon designed by the children was held in 2006. From the triathlon grew the enthusiasm for a multi-levelled effort to making biking safe and accessible not just within the school, but also on the way to school. Now, almost the entire school regularly bikes to school in the summer.
First up, glow jackets with the school’s name were sourced for all the pupils. At the same time the local vineyard community was approached about permission for children to access their land to bike safely to school.
Next the children decided they wanted an all-weather cycle track around their school. The came up with a design and then brought in some expert community help. Over the course of a weekend most of the 500m course was spread with ‘rotten rock’, complete with table tops, jumps and humps.
Now the school is talking to Blenheim Council about creating a track to join the school to Blenheim. They are also trying to source bikes that remain at school for use by pupils who come by bus and don’t have a bike at school.
The bottom up initiative has excited Bike NZ who see great potential for the model to be repeated at other schools around the country with very little trouble or expense. To assist other schools, Bike NZ is currently developing a DIY guide for designing and building tracks.
Updated | 17 Sep 2008.
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