Pupils urged to pedal to school

SCHOOL pupils in West Lothian are being encouraged to cycle to class as part of a campaign to improve the fitness levels of the area's youngsters.

Teams from Cycling Scotland will visit local schools, giving parents and children information on local routes and how to stay safe.

Cycling Scotland's Erl Wilkie said: "We realise road safety is a concern for parents, however, the cycle paths and traffic-free routes mean that their children do not always have to cycle on the same routes they are driven to school.

"Many parents are also unaware of the valuable life skills cycling can help children achieve, including confidence, self-reliance, critical judgement and risk management of situations."

The scheme hopes to reward schools that provide facilities such as cycle racks and lockers.