WORLD champion cyclist Mark Cavendish is encouraging pupils, parents and teachers from more than 13 schools in York to get on their bikes for the journey to school in March as part of Sustrans’ Big Pedal, writes Martin Flynn.

The Big Pedal is the UK’s biggest school cycling competition, and aims to get kids active and raise money for the cycling charity Sustrans.

There are also top prizes up for grabs for the schools that involve the most people. The scheme is funded by the bicycle industry.

The York schools involved are: Archbishop of York’s CE Juniors, Clifton With Rawcliffe, Dringhouses, Elvington CE, Headlands, Joseph Rowntree Secondary School, Millthorpe Secondary School, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC, Poppleton Road, Skelton, St Oswald’s CE, St Paul’s Nursery School, and Westfield.

Elaine Armstrong, assistant head at Joseph Rowntree School in New Earswick, said: “We’ve set up a competition between tutor groups, and there are workshops on mountain biking and bike maintenance.

For us the Big Pedal is about communicating the whole sustainability issue in a fun way.”

Jonathan Green, head teacher at Archbishop of York’s Junior School in Bishopthorpe, said: “It’s our second year doing the Big Pedal and it’s a great scheme. It definitely helps get the kids into good habits, and I think it benefits us not just as a school but as a community.”

Mark Cavendish said: “So many kids want to cycle so we should make it easy for them to get around by bike and to be fit and healthy.”

Last year 800 schools from across the UK took part.

This year, extra prizes donated by Intelligent Travel York are on offer for local schools.

David Hall, Sustrans regional director for Yorkshire, said: “We’re excited to see that so many schools in York have signed up to take part.

Sustrans is helping thousands of children across the country to be active and independent.”

To get your school involved, visit thebigpedal.org.uk