Bradford’s Big Pedal has never been more pertinent.

With only months to go to the Tour de France Grand Depart arrives in the region, Bradford has seen unprecedented numbers of children cycling to school.

This year’s Big Pedal, a national competition organised by Sustrans – the cycling charity encouraging people to travel by foot, bike or public transport – has seen 3,200 journeys made to the ten participating schools by bike or scooter during the two week event which finishes today.

Of those journeys, 1,200 were made by children on bikes; 1,500 on scooters and 500 were made by parents or carers who cycled in support.

Emily Groves, Sustrans Bike It officer for Bradford, believes the forthcoming Grand Depart, which will pass through local towns including Haworth, Otley and Skipton, has had an impact on this year’s escalating figures.

Emily says when she initially started in her role, 0.2 per cent of children in the 20 schools she is involved with in Bradford and District were cycling to school. In the two weeks the Big Pedal has been running ten per cent of youngsters are now getting on their bikes to make the daily journey.

“That is so much more than I ever hoped for,” says Emily.

One of the schools she attended in East Morton had 210 children cycling and scooting to school compared to 106 last year. Linda Wright, deputy headteacher of Burley Oaks Primary in Burley-in-Wharfedale which has seen 25 and 43 per cent of children cycling or scooting to school, says: “We had no idea how many children would take part in the competition, but we have been really pleased with the response.”

Parents have been inspired by the competition as well. Proud father, Jeremy Carter, says he hopes it will encourage children who wouldn’t normally cycle to get on their bikes.

Jeremy cycled to Crossflatts Primary school with his wife Rachael and children Daniel, six, four-year-old Toby and two-year-old Bronwyn.

“The children absolutely love cycling and I think it is a fantastic way of keeping fit and healthy,” adds Jeremy.

Emily believes the excitement surrounding the forthcoming Grand Depart has played a part in the increasing popularity of cycling. “I think the excitement around cycling has really picked up.”

She explains curriculum packs relating to the event have now been sent out to schools. “Schools are already talking about it, having their own fairs or sponsored events and all that is at the forefront of their minds at the moment.”

Emily says the fact that the Grand Depart will soon be arriving in Yorkshire brings it into reality.

“I think it is making it a bit more real. Everyone is talking about it – even people not in Yorkshire. It is closer than it has ever been for a lot of years, but it has really brought it home and I think a lot of it as well is building on the back of the Olympics.

“It started with the success of the cyclists in the Olympics and the track cyclists – they are almost becoming household names which was virtually unheard of in the past.”

Emily says cycling can also bring great health benefits, too, particularly for youngsters.

“We know that childhood obesity is becoming a bit of an epidemic. If we can get children to start thinking about active travel on their way to school some of them have nearly had half an hour of physical exercise in a day just from their journey to and from school.

“Adults can learn about it as well, incorporating physical exercise into their daily routine. You can just do it as part of your everyday routine and that is really important, to get that message across really young.”

Emily says cycling also makes people appreciate their surroundings. “I think it makes people in Bradford realise we have got hills and things but we still can cycle and scoot places and I think the Tour de France coming, the excitement to see that coming near Bradford, everyone is talking about it and I can’t see the cycling buzz ending any time soon.”

The results of The Big Pedal competition will be announced at the beginning of next week. The winning schools will have the opportunity for Danny Butler, a World Champion Trials rider, to come to their school and put on a stunt show performance.

To find out more about the Big Pedal, go to bigpedal.org.uk. For more information about the charity Sustrans, visit sustrans.org.uk.