The Bike Bus, a health and wellbeing initiative has been launched at Countesswells primary school, bringing a new and exciting way for children and families to travel to school.
The Bike Bus originated from the "Wheely Wednesday" activity at the school, where children were encouraged to bring their bikes, scooters, and roller blades to school for a fun and active session in the playground.
Aberdeen City Council Education and Children’s Services Committee convener Councillor Martin Greig said: “This is a fantastic way to encourage pupils and families to travel to school together. The bikebus brings people together in a safe and active form of green transport. It is a real benefit for the pupils and community of Countesswells."
Inspired by the success of "Wheely Wednesday," the Bike Bus was introduced to further promote physical activity and community engagement, as well as helping many children learn to ride a bike.
The initiative involves a group of children and parents cycling together to school, creating a safe and visible presence on the roads.
Principal teacher at Countesswells school, Jack McMullan said: “Mental and physical health and wellbeing is a top priority and key aspect of our role as educators. Children experiencing challenging mental health has increased and the bike bus is an example of one of the interventions we can put in place to support our learners.
“Physical health initiatives are also vital in ensuring our learners develop positive activity habits and physical literacy. Health and Wellbeing is as important a part of the curriculum as literacy and numeracy.”
The Bike Bus has already seen great success, with participation doubling from 30 to 60 children in just two weeks. The initiative has also received positive feedback from parents and the community, with many families joining in for quality time together during the daily routine of traveling to school.
Looking ahead, the Bike Bus aims to expand its reach and include more children without requiring adult supervision. Plans are also in place to set up a "wheels mechanics" programme at the school, where children can learn to fix their bikes and scooters.