TfL’s Travel for Life programme supports the next generation of Londoners to travel towards a brighter, safer and more sustainable future. By completing activities that promote walking and cycling to school and the safe use of public transport, primary and secondary schools can become Bronze, Silver or Gold accredited. The programme is administered by London Transport Museum in partnership with London’s Borough Officers.

To achieve Gold accreditation, a school must have reduced car use by six per cent or achieved 90 per cent of the school run being made using sustainable transport. The number of schools awarded Gold in 2024 was 735, a 10 per cent increase compared to 2023.

Bromley currently has the largest proportion of Gold schools, at an impressive 63 per cent, followed by Islington at 49 per cent and Havering at 45 per cent. Meanwhile Waltham Forest currently has the largest overall number of schools participating in the TfL Travel for Life programme, with 81 per cent of its schools involved. Bromley and Islington also have large numbers of schools participating, with 74 and 71 per cent of schools respectively.

St Gregory’s Catholic Science College in Brent recently achieved Gold accreditation, having only signed up to TfL Travel for Life in March 2023. With a motto “swap the ride for a park for a park and stride,” the school is taking several actions including measuring the air quality in its immediate surroundings, holding assemblies and creating a podcast on active travel.

TfL Citizens, delivered by London Transport Museum, is one of the five TfL Travel for Life programmes and is for children aged 10-11. It now has more than 100,000 pupils and 91 per cent of London schools taking part, preparing children for travelling to secondary school and teaching skills such as journey planning.

Numerous studies point to the health benefits of walking and cycling to school, with national charity Living Streets citing improvements in mood and behaviour in children who travel on foot. With the Government’s target for 55 per cent of primary school aged children walking to school by 2025, TfL is calling on London schools not currently participating in TfL Travel for Life to sign up to the scheme, to reap the benefits of better air quality and improved health.

Fewer parents driving children to school also improves road safety, as TfL works to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from London’s transport network as part of its Vision Zero programme. Following several measures taken by TfL, there has been sustained improvement in safety for under-16s on London’s roads. In 2023, the number of children killed or seriously injured on London’s roads was reduced by 40 per cent against TfL’s 2010-14 baseline.

Teaching staff can make a pledge on the website on behalf of their school, and they will receive access to a set of free lesson plans and teaching resources for EYFS to KS2. These curriculum-led activities are designed to help teachers talk to and encourage their students to find out more about cycling and the benefits it brings.

Pledging is for everyone, and there are a range of ways to take part. Adults and children can pledge to cycle to school every day for the week, discover somewhere new on their cycle, or swap just one car journey for a trip by cycle. Everyone who makes an individual pledge will be entered into a prize draw to win a brand new cycle from Squish.

Emily Cherry, Chief Executive at The Bikeability Trust, said: “Cycling is a fantastic way for children, parents, and teachers to get to school. Choosing cycling is the cleaner, greener and healthier choice, plus it’s a great way to set children up for a day of engaged learning, as well as incorporating some fun activity into their day.

“We have already had hundreds of schools signing up to make a pledge to share Cycle to School Week with their students, and we can’t wait to see children across the country bring the fun to the school run with pedal power!”

Cycle to School Week runs from Monday 23 – Friday 27 September and is supported by NatWest Rooster Money.

To make your pledge and receive your free set of teaching resources, visit the website: Cycle to School Week – Bikeability

They are asking children to write a letter to the Queen to tell her why cycling is the most fun, beneficial and healthy childhood pastime, and thank her for encouraging generations of royals to get confident on their cycles.

The royal family has huge potential to inspire generations, and have always released family photos showing how this mode of transport is accessible to everyone. Queen Elizabeth was pictured on a trike in a London park when she was a child, Prince William and Prince Harry were pictured enjoying cycling throughout their childhoods, and were even spotted playing bike polo. Whilst the youngest generation have already been whizzing around on balance bikes.

Children are being encouraged to decorate their letter with drawings and photographs, with a select few being sent to Buckingham Palace for the Queen to thank her for her 70 years of public service in inspiring children.

Children can ask their grown-ups to download their letter template from the Bikeability website and then get creative! They can explain why they love cycling, share pictures of their favourite bike and share stories about their bike rides.

Emily Cherry, Chief Executive at the Bikeability Trust, said: “Lots of members of the royal family have been pictured enjoying cycling during the Queen’s reign. Her majesty herself has been pictures on trikes and bikes since her childhood, and we know the youngest generation love to cycle after seeing pictures of Prince Louis and Prince George cycling.

“Cycling has been a mainstay of children for the 70 years the Queen has been on the throne, which is why we want to celebrate all things pedal power! We know millions of children across England share the royal family’s love for cycling, so we want them to share their cycling memories with the Queen to celebrate her reign.”

All letters will be entered into a competition to win a brand new Frog bike (worth up to £455) and the very best letters will be sent to Buckingham Palace.

Taberna Sansom, UK Marketing Manager of Frog Bikes, said: “We’re excited to be teaming up with Bikeability to encourage children to share their love for cycling in the run up to the Queen’s jubilee. We are pleased to be able to offer a brand new Frog bike to the lucky winner. Our bikes are lightweight and designed with the child in mind. We’re looking forward to reading all the letters to the Queen to help choose our winner.”

As well as running the competition the Bikeability Trust has been chosen to appear in the commemorative album that will celebrate the life and reign of the Queen. Her Majesty The Queen: The Official Platinum Jubilee Pageant Commemorative Album is a fully illustrated coffee-table book.

The Bikeability Trust was chosen to be part of the album in recognition of its work to get more children cycling. The album will feature an exclusive interview with Bikeability Trust Chief Executive Emily Cherry, in which she speaks about how cycling has remained an important part of children’s lives since the Queen took to the throne.

The competition will run from 16 May – 6 June. You can download your template and find all terms and conditions, including how to enter, on the Bikeability website. The winner will be announced on 7 June. To find out more about Frog Bikes go to frogbikes.com.