| Five of our districts Sustrans Bike it schools are being paid a special visit this month when Santa Claus goes back to the classroom. Santa will be taking a break from his hectic schedule to deliver some early festive cheer to pupils at Greatwood, Ryelands, Ellel St. Johns, Bolton-le-Sands Primary Schools and Morecambe Road School. Having visited several of our schools last year and realising how easy it is to get around the district by bike thanks to improvements made by Lancaster City Council, Santa will be cycling from school to school to distribute a trailer full of goodies to help pupils get on their bikes. Coun Eileen Blamire, cabinet member with responsibility for cycling said: "The Sustrans Bike It Project continues to make tremendous achievements in helping the council encourage more children to get on their bikes. Through training and fun events held at the school all year round, its no wonder we are seeing more children choosing the healthier and much cheaper way to travel." Sustrans Bike It Officer, Kathy Bashford said: "The enthusiasm of the staff and pupils at Ryelands Primary School for Bike It is tremendous and we are working together to treble cycling levels over this school year. Cycling Santa delivering his presents using his festive cycle trailer inspires the children about how much you can do by bike! The school staff also have their own cycle trailer and we hope that when the school has a new cycle shelter in the New Year the pupils will follow their great example and cycle to school regularly!" The schools are just four of 23 schools in the district taking part in the Bike It project, which encourages children to choose two wheels instead of four to get to school and on other journeys. Editors Notes Sustrans is the UKs leading sustainable transport charity. Its vision is a world in which people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. It is achieving this through innovative but practical solutions to the UKs transport challenges. Bike It is a nationwide scheme, managed by sustainable transport charity Sustrans, aiming to increase the number of young people cycling to school and on other journeys Sustrans offer a free information line for staff, parent and teachers who are interesting in promoting cycling and walking in their school. There are currently 38 Bike It Officers, working with over 400 schools and over 60,000 children and young people across England and Wales. Over the 2006/07 academic year there was a trebling of cycling levels in schools taking part in the Bike It programme The project receives funding from Cycling England with the support of the Department for Transport, Bike Hub the cycle industry levy, the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being Programme, the Welsh Assembly Government, Transport for London and support from partner local authorities Bike It is core funded by the cycle industry, comprising both bicycle manufacturers and retailers, through the Bike Hub. Cycling England is the expert body set up by Government to promote cycling nationally. Further information about Cycling England can be found at www.cyclingengland.co.uk go to Bike It page | 