YOUNG BIKERS SCHOOL CYCLE MAP

We are pleased to announce that the first Young Bikers school cycle map (for the Isle of Dogs and Poplar) is now ready.

Download the map (A3-sized PDF) here:

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THE MAP

– is designed to encourage safe and pleasant journeys to school by bike, promoting student cycling in Tower Hamlets

– is intended to reassure inexperienced cyclists, and their parents

– features routes that are traffic-light colour-coded (from green for easy off-road, to red for advanced busy roads) to show the level of cycling experience required. Most routes are green and amber

– can be easily written on and customised, and comes with suggestions for doing so. This makes for an interactive map and allows it to be easily used in an educational context

– features useful information for young bikers: cycle groups, bike retailers and workshops are included, plus tips on safe cycling

– looks like no other, printed in hi-vis yellow, its bright and attractive yet minimal design prevents information overload

– is printed on recycled paper, supporting cycling's environmental credentials

– has been created with the support of Tower Hamlets council and Sustrans' Bike It scheme, which works to promote cycling in schools

The printed map, including a larger version for noticeboards, will be delivered to local schools throughout June.

If you have any comments or suggestions for how to improve the map then please let us know.

Students – if you want to get actively involved in the Young Bikers project you can contact us here

YOUNG BIKERS POSTERS #1

Here are a selection of simple, colourful posters we've recently designed for Young Bikers. Let us know what you think. You can download (A3-sized) PDFs for print and display below.

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Poster 1
Poster 2
Poster 3
Poster 4
Poster 5
Poster 6

IF YOU WORK WITH YOUNG BIKERS...

Teachers, youth workers, health workers – do you want to know more about the Young Bikers project? Download a PDF:

Teachers
Youth workers
Health workers

Feedback welcome. Help us to help you create a thriving cycling youth culture in Tower Hamlets.

YOUR CYCLE ROUTES WANTED

Do you know a safe and pleasant cycle route to your school or college in Poplar or Isle of Dogs? Perhaps it's a route that you walk, which would be suitable for cyclists. Or one that you cycle already.

Email us with your favourites, or write a comment below. If suitable, we will include your route on the maps we make.

Things you might want to think about:

• How busy is the route? Do many cars use it?
• Are there any obstructions to cycling, such as a no entry sign, one way street or gates that are difficult to cycle through?
• How direct is the route to your school / college?

WHY BECOME A YOUNG BIKER?

There are many reasons why you might want to start cycling:

• It's fun
• It's great exercise and gets / keeps you fit
• It's sustainable and helps the environment (by cutting motor pollution)
• It's cheap – cycling cuts out bus / train fares and petrol costs
• It's nicer – you can use pleasant cycle routes to get around
• It's interesting – when cycling around you get to learn more about your local area
• It's often quicker (surprisingly) than using other forms of transport

Can you think of any more reasons? Add a comment if you can...

YOUNG BIKERS ARE GO

Young Bikers is a new cycling project aimed at students in Tower Hamlets. Its main aim is to get more young people into cycling.

The first Young Bikers project is the creation of school cycle route maps, both digital and print (beginning with Poplar and the Isle of Dogs). Work on this is underway and will be completed in March 2010.

The maps will be given out in local schools and posted on this blog for download and print.

The maps will also provide general information about cycling in Tower Hamlets (bike retailers, cycle groups, workshops, training providers, etc, etc) as well as tips on safe cycling too.

This blog will be updated as and when...