Bike to School Week is an annual event promoted by the sustainable travel charity Sustrans.

This year it takes place from June 3-7. Here’s a quick summary of why encouraging more pupils to bike to school makes sense.

Childhood obesity is a growing concern. Only 60 per cent of boys and 40 per cent of girls are getting the minimum of an hours’ moderate physical activity a day they need to stay healthy.

On average children now spend more time sat in a car travelling to school than the time allocated to physical education on the school curriculum.

Currently only four per cent of children cycle to school. That’s despite nearly half saying they’d like to and the vast majority living within a reasonable cycling distance. That more don’t cycle is largely linked to safety concerns, but these are nowhere near as high as perceived.

In most situations the risks can also be minimised and are more than offset by the longer-term health benefits.

Cycling to school improves a child’s physical health. They are also more alert, less stressed and sleep better. It helps improve a child’s independence and self-confidence. There’s even clear evidence that their academic performance improves.

There are wider community benefits too. Cars on the school run account for about 20 per cent of traffic at the 8am-9am peak. They add to congestion, cause major parking and safety problems around the school gate and contribute to air pollution including nitrogen dioxide – a pollutant that stunts children’s growth and increases risks of asthma and lung cancer.

Parents themselves also benefit. They don’t have to spend time on the school run, an activity estimated to collectively cost them £520 million a year.

So whether you’re a parent, teacher, school governor or councillor why not have a look at the Sustrans website and consider how you could be encouraging more children to cycle to your local school – go to sustrans.org.uk

Cycle Sunday

To encourage your child to start cycling or improve their bike skills why not take them along to Bike Worcester’s first Cycle Sunday event on Sunday, June 9.

It takes place between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Pitchcroft. Three marked and led off-road rides of between one-and-a-half and five miles will start from the middle of the racecourse.

There will also be cycle challenges and games to test and improve bike handling skills and plenty of information about child friendly bikes and where to cycle locally. More details can be found at bikeworcester.org.uk

There’s no need to book. Just turn up and enjoy the ride.