The school run can be one of the busiest parts of the day. Bags to remember, shoes to find, somewhere to park and a clock that always seems to be moving faster than you are.
From Monday 5 to Friday 9 October 2026, Cycle to School Week is encouraging families across the country to think differently about the journey to school and give cycling a try.
That doesn’t mean changing every school run overnight. For some families, taking part might mean cycling once during the week. For others, it could be practising a new route, building confidence together or simply spending more time on bikes.
Cycle to School Week is a national Bikeability campaign that encourages children and families to experience the school run by bike.
For 2026, the campaign is looking at the real cost of the school run, including the money and time families spend travelling to school, as well as congestion and the impact of shorter car journeys.
Families can make a pledge to take part in a way that suits them. That might mean cycling to school throughout the week, trying a cycling commute for the first time, exploring somewhere new by bike or heading out for a family ride.
Find out more and make your Cycle to School Week pledge
For some families, cycling can turn an everyday journey into something children genuinely look forward to. It gives them an opportunity to be active before the school day begins, spend time outdoors and become more comfortable on their bike.
There may be practical benefits too. Where the route allows, cycling can mean less time sitting in school traffic and fewer short journeys by car.
Bikeability says the average primary school journey is around 1.5 miles, which it estimates at roughly a 15 minute cycle. Of course, distance is only part of the picture. The route, traffic and your child’s experience on a bike will all affect whether cycling to school feels right for your family.
Even one ride during Cycle to School Week is a perfectly good place to start.
The route you normally drive to school may not be the one you would choose on a bike. Quieter roads, cycle paths, crossings and cut throughs can sometimes make a big difference to the journey.
Before trying the school run, have a look at the different options available and think about any busier roads or junctions along the way. A practice ride at the weekend or another quieter time can give you and your child a chance to see how the route feels without the pressure of getting to school on time.
It also gives you a much better idea of how long the journey actually takes.
Children develop cycling skills at different stages, and the right school journey will depend on far more than age alone.
A child who is still getting comfortable with starting, stopping and steering will need something very different from a confident rider who already has experience cycling on the road. The type of route, traffic conditions and the skills your child already has are all worth considering.
Where there are skills they are still developing, structured cycle training can give them time to practise and build experience before taking on more challenging journeys.
Trying a new school run is probably not the morning you want to discover a flat tyre or start looking for a missing helmet.
Checking the bikes beforehand, finding the locks and getting school bags and coats ready can make the morning feel much more straightforward. It is also worth thinking about how your child will carry their belongings and where bikes can be left once you arrive at school.
A little preparation the night before can leave more time for the actual ride.
There are other ways to give it a try.
Some families may decide to cycle only part of the journey, while others might choose a quieter day of the week when there is more time. Family rides away from the school run can also be a useful way for children to build familiarity and confidence before cycling becomes part of an everyday journey.
What works will depend on your route, your child and your family routine.
A Bike Bus is another way to make the school journey feel more social.
Much like a walking bus, children and adults cycle together along an agreed route to school. Riding as a group can make the journey more enjoyable for children while also helping schools and families build a stronger cycling community.
If your school is interested in giving it a try, Bikeability has guidance and resources to help with planning and getting started.
Find out how to set up a Bike Bus
Cycle to School Week may be the thing that gets your child more interested in cycling. If they would like to develop their skills further, Aspire Active Education delivers cycle training for children at different stages.
Our programmes include Balance Bike Training, Learn to Ride, Bikeability Level 1, combined Levels 1 and 2, and Level 3.
Depending on the programme, children can work on everything from balance, steering, starting and stopping to signalling, road positioning, junctions and interacting with other road users. As they progress, the focus moves towards giving them practical skills they can use on everyday journeys.
Bikes and helmets are available where required for Aspire programmes.
If you are a parent or carer interested in Bikeability training for your child, you can register their interest using the form below.
Register your child’s interest in Bikeability training
Cycle to School Week 2026 runs from Monday 5 to Friday 9 October.
If your family would like to take part, Bikeability has family and school pledges along with free resources for the week.
Find out more about Cycle to School Week 2026