Cash Boost for Cycle Scheme

The Bike IT project to encourage Leicester pupils to cycle to school has been given thousands of pounds to expand.

Eight schools in the city have taken part in the project over the last two years and It has led to a huge increase in the numbers of pupils riding.

Now, national sustainable transport charity Sustrans has given Leicester's Bike IT project £128,000 to help expand. The city council will also contribute an extra £65,000 in match funding.

The cash will fund new cycle parking, cycle training and promoting Bike IT at more schools over the next three years.

Sustrans, which runs the Safer Routes to Schools campaign that includes Bike IT, is also due to take on a new Bike IT officer for the city.

Bike IT organisers said the number of children cycling to school since the campaign began had increased by 300 to 500 per cent.