Deansfield Primary School in Eltham has hosted a cycle training session this week, to help its pupils feel safe and confident when they’re cycling around the borough. Cllr Lekau, the new Mayor of Royal Greenwich, Cllr Dominic Mbang and Cllr Linda Bird joined students from year 6 at the school’s training session to hear more about cycling to school and for fun.

Royal Greenwich is celebrating cycling this week, as part of Cycling UK’s 100th annual Bike Week (5-11 June). The initiative is a celebration of cycling and its numerous benefits for both physical and mental health.

Cllr Averil Lekau, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “I’m thrilled to see the Deansfield pupils having so much fun on their bikes, and learning really important skills to make sure they’re safe.

“Cycling offers countless benefits, both for individuals and our community as a whole. It’s a fun and affordable way to travel. Not only does it promote physical fitness and well-being, but it also reduces traffic congestion and air pollution, making our streets cleaner and safer for everyone. Reducing dependency on cars is a big part of our Transport Strategy, putting cycling and walking at the heart of our transport network.”

Clara Daly, Headteacher of Deputy Leader of the Deansfield Primary School, said:
“The children at Deansfield had a wonderful time today showing the Mayor, Councillor Dominic Mbang, Councillor Linda Averil and Councillor Linda Bird their prowess on their bicycles. The trainers come in to teach the children how to do safety checks and ride their bikes safely on the road.
As a school we really support the children riding as it is healthy for them and the environment. Every year when we have the training it inspires other children to ride their bikes to school as well.”

Cllr Dominic Mbang said: “Bike Week is a great opportunity to seize the opportunities that cycling presents, enhancing our quality of life and preserving our environment. Regular cycling not only provides the joy of outdoor physical exercise but also reduces the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Exercise like cycling has been proven to improve people’s moods and relieve symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. I would encourage everyone to get out on their bikes this weekend and take a ride around our beautiful borough!”

Karolina from Deansfield Primary School said: “I’ve learnt how to check that my bicycle is safe to ride using the acronym ABCD – Air, Brakes, Chain, Direction.”

Francisco said: “I learnt about primary and secondary positions in the road to indicate to drivers that they can overtake. It’s fun learning things that I didn’t know.”

The Royal Borough of Greenwich offers local people free Cycle Confident training and various other resources to support cycling within the community.

Cycle Confident training is designed to help individuals aged 7 and above living, working, or studying in Greenwich build their confidence and skills when cycling on the road. You can find more information about training and make a booking at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/cycle-confident.