Cycle to School Week for Primary Schools

What is Cycle to School Week?

Cycle to School Week 2026 is taking place from 5th to 9th October. This national initiative encourages pupils, parents, carers and staff to leave the car at home and choose a healthier, cheaper and more environmentally friendly way to travel. This year’s campaign focuses on the real cost of the school run, from the financial implications to the time families spend travelling.

Whether on two wheels, a trike or a bike with stabilisers, Cycle to School Week is a great way to get confident cyclists to encourage others and provide a safe space for new cyclists to explore and feel supported.

How to get Families Involved in Cycle to School Week

• Share cycle routes with families – create or share a map showing useful local cycle routes, quiet roads and traffic-free paths. Families may be more likely to cycle if they know which routes are available.
• Hold a ‘bike breakfast’ - start the day with a simple breakfast for pupils who cycle, walk or scoot to school. It gives families an extra reason to get involved and creates a positive start to the school day.
• Encourage families to make a pledge for the week - This could be cycling to school every day, trying a cycling commute for the first time, discovering a new route, or enjoying a family bike ride together. Families who register their pledge on the Bikeability website will also be entered into a prize draw to win a Batch children's bike.
• Organise a family cycle ride - arrange an optional cycle ride before or after school, perhaps around a local park or along a safe, traffic-free route. It could be a great way for families to meet and get involved together.

Setting up a School Bike Bus

A School Bike Bus is a fantastic way to encourage more children to cycle. Following a planned route, parents, carers or staff ride alongside groups of pupils, collecting more cyclists along the way, just like a traditional bus. It's a fun and social way to travel to school while helping children develop the confidence and skills they need to ride safely and independently.

As the leaves begin to turn, it's also a brilliant way for families to enjoy the fresh autumn air and start the school day feeling energised. For more information on setting up a School Bike Bus, head to the Bikeability website.

Whether you're encouraging families to make a pledge, setting up a Bike Bus or exploring cycle safety in the classroom, Cycle to School Week is a great opportunity to promote active travel and healthy habits.

Resources to Teach about Cycle Safety in School

Looking for ways to bring Cycle to School Week into the classroom? The Purple Mash Cycle to School Week area is packed with activities. Here are some ideas on how you could use the resources:

• Create Cycle to School posters to display around school
• Explore the importance of staying safe by designing cycle safety leaflets
• Write about road safety in 2Publish and share with younger children
• Describe traffic issues from different viewpoints and have a class debate
• Explore the role of school crossing guards and Lollipop Ladies (and men!) with the Mashcams
• Through paint projects, explore different modes of transport
• Create a quiz in 2Quiz about cycling saftey
• Put together a slideshow for an assembly presentation