The scheme is intended to promote active travel and encourage children to play
SCHOOLS and play settings in Cardiff will receive 450 scooters and balance bikes from Cardiff council for children aged three to 11.
Primary and specialist schools across Cardiff will receive a fleet of scooters, as well as ramps and lesson plans to teach the children how to ride the scooters or bikes.
It’s hoped the scheme, which is funded by a Welsh Government grant, will encourage children to play and aims to help support schools in promoting active travel.
Maintained nurseries and some Flying Start locations in Cardiff are also eligible for the scheme.
A total of 47 primary schools are receiving scooters, as well as 32 Families First pre-school provisions and three maintained nurseries. Meanwhile, 31 primary schools plus one secondary education site will receive ramps.
The schools involved are part of the council’s School Streets scheme that launched last year, to enable street play sessions with the scooters and bikes.
If cars drive on streets involved in the scheme without the relevant permits they can be fined, which is another way the council is trying to promote active travel in schools.
This scheme also runs alongside the Schools’ Bike Fleet Project that has already distributed 660 bikes to schools across Cardiff.
Cabinet member for culture and leisure Coun Peter Bradbury said: “Children have missed out on a great deal due to COVID-19 and this scheme will help provide additional opportunities to some of our most disadvantaged pupils.
“By providing children and young people with opportunities like this, further supports Cardiff’s ambition to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City, helping to make Cardiff a fantastic city to grow up in.”
Coun Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “Teams from across the council have worked together to secure this funding, allowing us to increase outdoor play provision and enhance the activities provided by schools and play schemes across the city
“This is one of many projects helping towards transform the city’s public transport system, promoting more forms of Active Travel and importantly, responding to the climate emergency as set out in Cardiff’s Capital Ambition.”
