Transport for Young London Primary schools

tfl.gov.uk/younglondon

Summer 2014

Get cycling this summer special edition newsletter Lots of updates and information for the summer

Will you become a STAR? The STARS (Sustainable Travel: Active Responsible Safe) scheme can help you gain recognition and kudos within your school, the local community and across London for your travel-related achievements.

Why STARS?

It can help you to identify how your school community is currently travelling, how to overcome barriers to travel by a certain mode and how to address travel-related issues. The scheme provides a framework and guidance for nurseries and schools to help them set up a school travel plan, at the same time as applying for a STARS award. It rewards schools for their achievements and commitment to encouraging walking, cycling, road safety and independent travel at one of three award levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Benefits for your school

Join the 1,248 London STARS schools who have benefited from identifying and addressing school issues and who have seen, on average, an eight per cent reduction in car use as part of the school journey since 2004. If you are already a STARS school – aim higher. Silver and Gold schools benefit by an average

MAYOR OF LONDON

six per cent increase in walking, and a two per cent increase in cycling, as well as getting the opportunity to be nominated for one of our top travel awards and attend our prestigious City Hall event.

Support and how to apply

Our STARS online website allows schools to update their travel plan progress, and apply for accreditation at the same time. Your borough officer will be able to support you with the website and advise you on running travel initiatives within your school. The deadline for accreditation submissions is 25 June, but your borough officer may require you to submit your application earlier. If your school or college is interested in applying, contact your borough officer as soon as possible.

Transport for London

tfl.gov.uk/younglondon

Book a place on a STARS autumn seminar Look out for ‘save the date’ cards for autumn seminars which will be coming to you very soon via your borough officer. Schools will be able to register online for the events before the end of term, once all STARS applications have been submitted by 25 June. An invitation for your school will follow.

Autumn STARS seminar dates Primary school seminars

Boroughs

Date

North – Camden Town Hall

Camden, Barnet, Brent, City of London, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow, Islington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster

Tuesday 7 October

West – Hounslow Civic Centre

Hounslow, Ealing, Hillingdon, Richmond and Hammersmith and Fulham

Wednesday 15 October

East – Stratford Town Hall

Newham, Hackney, Havering, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest

Thursday 9 October

South

Lewisham, Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and Wandsworth

Tuesday 14 October

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tfl.gov.uk/younglondon

Buses to go cash free Problems with paying?

Cash fares will no longer be accepted on London buses from Sunday 6 July.

We are introducing a ‘One more journey’ feature which is designed to get customers home, or to a place where they can top up their Oyster card should they be stuck or unable to pay. If an Oyster does not have sufficient funds for a journey, you will automatically be issued with an ‘Emergency fare’ slip which shows a message advising that you need to top up the card. An example is featured above right. Drivers will also need to ensure they use the vulnerable person procedure to ensure they do not leave anyone stranded if they are vulnerable or obviously in distress.

The decision to move to cash-free bus travel follows a considerable drop in the number of people paying their bus fare in cash. In 2000, around 25 per cent of journeys were paid for with money. Today that figure stands at around one per cent. With the extensive use of Oyster cards, and more than 11 million journeys now being made using contactless payment cards, paying by cash is expected to reduce even further as more customers take advantage of the convenience and cheaper fares these provide. The change will not affect 99 per cent of bus passengers who already pay for their journeys using Oyster, prepaid tickets, contactless payment cards or concessionary tickets (such as children and young people). Removing cash fares will speed up boarding times and lead to faster journeys and means customers get the best value fare for each journey they make.

They include: • Young children or older people • People who could be at risk if left behind, including those in isolated places or at quieter times • People who are disabled, injured, unwell or who have had an accident, assault or been involved in a similar incident • People who show a travel support card and may have learning difficulties

Keeping safe

Young and vulnerable people are advised to carry a spare Oyster card topped up with enough money for at least one journey, just in case they misplace their Zip Oyster card. 3

tfl.gov.uk/younglondon

Empty classroom day – Take learning outside Friday 20 June 2014

biggest outdoor event in this school calendar!

Sign up to pledge that at least one class lesson in your school will take place outside. It’s that simple!

STARS – if your school does decide to take part in Empty Classroom Day, this can count towards your STARS accreditation application under ‘Other walking, cycling or road safety initiative’.

This time can be spent studying any subject, from • Conducting a walking audit to a nature walk • Maths to mapping your local area • Lunching to launching a cycle club The aim is to get an empty classroom in every school in the world on that day, with pupils learning in their playground, the local park or farm, generally in the great outdoors. Sign up your school today and be part of the

S To sign up or for further information, visit

www.projectdirt.com/emptyclassroomday or contact [email protected]

Have your Year 6 pupils applied for their Zip oyster? As your Year 6 students get ready to start secondary school, please remind them that they must have an 11-15 Zip Oyster photo card to be eligible for free bus and tram travel. More information about the scheme is available at tfl.gov.uk/zip. It includes an option to apply online – the quickest and easiest way.

School Party Travel scheme update We are making some changes to how your tickets for the School Travel Party scheme will be issued.

next log in. If it isn’t, email the team at [email protected].

Also, remember that if you’re planning educational trips for the end of term, you should apply early to secure your tickets. If there are too many school groups wanting to travel at the same time, we will reject later applications. You can order tickets up to three months in advance so do it as soon as you can.

If you participate in the scheme, you will receive an email during the summer providing you with information on any changes. To ensure your school gets this email, check that the address you use to access your account is up to date when you

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tfl.gov.uk/younglondon

Project Spotlight: Cycling In every newsletter we focus on a particular programme to provide you with more detailed information. In this issue, we’re looking at cycle training. Enjoy free guided rides in London. For all abilities, from easy to challenging.

All schools in the Capital can get free cycle training for their pupils from their borough council. Last year more than 38,000 children received training across London. The national Bikeability scheme rewards kids for taking part in bike training all the way through school. They can work their way through three levels as they move from primary to secondary: • Controlling a bike in a safe, off-road environment (Level 1) • Cycling safely on the road with other traffic on quieter roads (Level 2) • Cycling on busier roads and managing complex junctions anywhere in London (Level 3) To book cycle training for your school, please contact your borough officer

Sky Ride Local

Like to get out on your bike more but not sure where to start? Come and ride with Sky Ride Local and discover some of the great places where you can enjoy cycling around London

Don’t forget that cycle training is also available for adults too. There are plenty of resources on TfL’s website where you will also be able to find out more. Visit www.tfl.gov.uk/start-cycling.

With Sky Ride Local – British Cycling’s guided ride programme – all the planning is done for you. British Cycling has found the best routes, trained Ride Leaders to guide and support you, and picked some cracking places to visit along the way. With three different levels, there’s something for everyone – whether you’re building your confidence or looking to stretch your legs on a cycling challenge.

Cycling Resources Check out Get Cycling this summer. We also have lots of other cycling resources such as information on Bikers’ Breakfast and Cycle Clubs. They feature lots of ‘ready to use’ lesson plans and activities for your pupils to run to help your school achieve STARS accreditation.

To find out more, or to find a ride near you, visit www.goskyride.com/london.

S Visit www.staccreditation.org.uk/

S For information on all the other

school/toolkits.php

cycling toolkits and activities we offer, visit tfl.gov.uk/younglondon

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tfl.gov.uk/younglondon

Get cycling this summer! Cycling events and activities It’s going to be an action packed summer with lots of cycling activities in the Capital. Don’t miss out on all the fun activities and free events. Make sure you visit our STARS website regularly for updates: www.staccredidation.org.uk

cycle safety programmes and bike marking to prevent theft.

Fete du Tour – Saturday 31 May, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford

Bring your family or school to the event. To find out more, visit the www.staccreditation.org.uk

There will also be a BMX display and a bike try-out area with a variety of bikes available for all ages and abilities, plus a Frenchthemed food market for everyone to enjoy.

Cities across Britain will be hosting their very own ‘Fete du Tour’ festivals to celebrate the return of the Tour de France to the UK.

Enjoy Bike Week – 14 to 22 June

Bike Week is an annual event celebrating all things cycling. As well as promoting this healthy form of travel, it shows how easily it can become part of your usual routine by encouraging ‘everyday cycling for everyone’. The event is the biggest cycling event in the UK and more than half a million people attend every year. For more information on how you can get involved, visit www.bikeweek.org.uk

At the celebrations in London, there will be lots of fun activities including escorted rides in the Olympic Park and across various boroughs. The park will be equipped with lots of free cycling resources and training opportunities, including a pop-up Tour de France museum, free cycle confidence taster training sessions,

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Get cycling this summer! Cycling events and activities (continued) Tour de France – Monday 7 July

Getting involved? On the 5, 6 and 7 July, ‘Fan Parks’ are being hosted at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Trafalgar Square and Green Park where you will be able to enjoy the race on a large screen. There will also be cycling activation hubs, providing cycling resources and information on how to get started with cycling.

What is the Tour de France? The Tour de France is a cycle race and the largest annual sporting event in the world. Together with the Mayor and London & Partners, we are bringing the Tour de France to the Capital on Monday 7 July.

Preparing your school for the Tour de France • Consider amending school opening The Tour de France may impact on hours, timings of staff meetings and your school’s day-to-day operations. after-school clubs to avoid travel during Some roads surrounding the race route will the event be closed from 10:00 on the day of the event to ensure the safety of competitors Remode and spectators. Other roads will be busier. • Promote active modes of travel. As Parking suspensions may also be in place. the transport network may be busier, Planning for how the closures may affect it provides a great opportunity to your school is important in order to encourage staff, pupils and parents who minimise disruption. would not normally do so, to use active Here are some tips to help you plan modes of travel such as cycling and leading up to the day: walking. Speak to your borough officer if you would like support on how to do this Reduce • Order supplies for delivery well in Reroute advance and notify school service • Inform your school community of providers and suppliers of road closures changes in your local area. Allow more time to travel as the roads and public • If possible, avoid maintenance or transport network may be busier building work at the school during and around the event, such as industrial • Get pupils involved in planning their cleaning and health and safety checks route and journey to school as part of a class-based activity, ahead of the Tour Retime de France • Decide and inform parents and carers of any planned school closures on the day S Visit tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner of the event well in advance

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tfl.gov.uk/younglondon

Get cycling this summer! Cycling events and activities (continued) Tour de France route from Cambridge M25

D GR PIN EP

ILL

L’ S PATH

EPPING NE W RD

R EA

EPPING FOREST

D ’S R

EPPING NE W RD

RA N G E R

M11

PALME RSTON RD

WOO DFO RD NEW RD

HIGH RD

WOO DFOR D

Check out the Summer of Cycling resource Geography activity (B2 page 20) for lots of route planning fun!

A406

REDBRIDGE

A406

WOODFO RD NEW

RD

WALTHAM FOREST RD DGE BRI LEA

A104

OR IEN T

WAY

FAN PARK

RUC KHO LT R D

D ER DG BRI LEA

HACKNEY

Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park

WAY

PLA ISTO WR

D

118 HIG H

HAM ST WE LANE

ST

D

OA BR

A

MAL THE

E WK BIRDCAG

Buckingham Palace

CITY

ENT KM

VICTORIA EM BAN

WESTMINSTER L

ND STRA

Waterloo Bridge

Westminster Bridge

Blackfriars Bridge

Southwark London Bridge Bridge

A13

A1203 THE HIGHWAY

Tower Bridge

Rotherhithe Tunnel

TOWER HAMLETS

EAST INDIA DOCK RD A S PEN WAY

Canary Wharf Blackwall Tunnel

NEWHAM A13

FIEL D

LOWER LEA CR OSSI NG

O2 Arena

NOR T

H WOO

LWICH RD

GREENWICH

Lambeth Bridge

8

TOLLGATE RD

RD

Trafalgar Square

COMMERCIAL RD

CHEAPS IDE

STA N S

Green Park

T OXFORD S

RD A11 HAPEL WHITEC

A10

USE EHO LIM LINK

FAN PARK

HOLB VIAD ORN UCT

BISH O PSGAT E

Trafalgar Square

HIGH ST GENT LANE CE RE PRIN

FAN PARK

CE R COPPI OW

ADS RO

The Tour de France is passing through 7 London boroughs

DEN HILL

GS H GOLDIN

CR OS S

RI D

EPP ING NE WR D

W

OO D

ROYAL ALBERT WAY

London City Airport

D HR HIG

tfl.gov.uk/younglondon

Get cycling this summer! Cycling events and activities (continued) Prudential RideLondon – Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August

How can you get involved? The whole route is unticketed, so everyone will be able to watch for free. Certain areas will be closed to spectators for safety reasons. Further information will be available by July 2014. As well as the live action along the race route, we will be hosting information stands giving details about the event at:

What is Prudential RideLondon? Prudential RideLondon is a two-day festival celebrating cycling in the Capital. It is the world’s biggest mass participation cycling event. As part of it, there is FreeCycle on Saturday 9 August – the perfect family fun day out on bikes. It takes place on some of the city’s most iconic roads which will be completely shut to traffic.

• The PRL Bike Show ExCeL centre 7 – 9 August

Look out for news from your local borough officers, as there will be organised escorted rides from some boroughs into central London.

• Green Park Cycling Festival 9 and 10 August Road closures, bus diversions and parking restrictions will be in place along the event routes on both days. You won’t be able to drive along the route, so plan your journey carefully or consider using public transport.

Last year’s Prudential RideLondon festival was a huge success, becoming the biggest inaugural mass participation sports event in the world. It raised more than £7m for charity.

Tour of Britain – Sunday 7 to Sunday 14 September

For full details on all the events taking place during Prudential Ridelondon, visit www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/routes

What is the Tour of Britain? The Tour of Britain is the UK's biggest professional cycle race and the country's largest free spectator sporting event.

Revived in 2004 after a five-year absence from Britain's sporting calendar, the Tour of Britain is now a cornerstone of the sporting year and this country's main cycling event. The final stage arrives in London on Sunday 14 September. After seven gruelling stages around the country, this final stage of the race will finish at The Mall.

S Full details of the Tour of Britain event are available on the Tour of Britain official website – thetour.co.uk/home.php

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Get cycling this summer!

Cycle Challenge – 2 to 27 June Copyright: British Cycling

The School’s Cycle Challenge is now available through the STARS website. Log on and register a new team today! www.staccreditation.org.uk/staccreditation.php

What is the School’s Cycle Challenge? Throughout June, schools also have the opportunity to take part in the Cycle Challenge and demonstrate their commitment to getting more pupils cycling.

up for grabs. These will be advertised on the STARS website so keep an eye out for updates. Why wait? Sign your school up now and find out what you can win. Visit the Cycle Challenge website by logging in onto the STARS website: www.staccreditation.org.uk/ staccreditation.php. Make sure you sign up before 2 June so you start logging your miles.

Schools can register teams of up to 12 people to compete against other schools to see who cycles the most. The winners will be rewarded for their hard work as there are many prizes 10