Schwalbe partners with Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel

Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel 2022 has been joined by bicycle tyre manufacturer Schwalbe, partnering with Sustrans to encourage more families to travel to school actively.

Making the announcement, Sustrans point to, “recent research (which) has revealed a generation gap of children taking up cycling. In 2019, only 4% of children cycled to school even though half of them would have chosen cycling to school over other modes of transport. A quarter of cars on the road at the start and the end of the day were on the school run”

As principal sponsor Schwalbe’s focus is in supporting everyday cycling, starting with the next generation. Together with Sustrans Schwalbe wants to promote the benefits of Active Travel for children.

Dave Taylor, Managing Director at Schwalbe Tyres UK Ltd, said: “We’ve thought about what we really want to achieve in the next 5 to 7 years – what would be our legacy from the post pandemic cycling boom – could we achieve something more meaningful than a spike in sales?”

“We have a responsibility to try to not only preserve the work that has already been done by the likes of Sustrans and others in promoting cycle participation, but also to prolong the increase in cycle participation that came about as a result of the pandemic.”

By supporting the Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel Schwalbe hopes to increase cycle participation amongst children.

“We have a wider social responsibility to promote Active Travel and work with likeminded partners like Sustrans in doing so.” continued Taylor.

Adding to Dave Taylor’s comments Xavier Brice, CEO at Sustrans, said: “The Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is an opportunity for parents to embrace an active school run and for schools to demonstrate the many benefits of leaving the car at home for short journeys. We all know that we need to use our cars less, and this event is the perfect chance to try that out, have a happier and healthier school run and hopefully make a lasting change.”

The Big Walk and Wheel is an evolution of the Big Pedal, which saw 2,254 schools take part in 2021. Over 760,022 pupils registered to take part, login over 2 million walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting journeys to school.

With growing concerns about air pollution, and inactivity, leading to compromised physical and mental health, initiatives such as the Big Walk and Wheel offer a grass routes opportunity to change local attitudes toward mobility, whilst linking into a wider national programme of activities.