Cycle Training

Ealing Gazette - 14th July 2000

A Splash of Green - We're Making it safer for kids to be out and about

We're now into the second year of Salsa. This is an EU funded initiative from Ealing Council to promote Sustainable Access to Leisure Sites and Ammenities - in other words to create convenient and safe routes for children to walk and cycle to leisure centres, parks, libraries and so on. Special routes are being laid in Acton, Southall, Northolt and West Ealing areas with cycle lanes paths signs and a range of measures to improve safety.

Salsa is intended to increase childrens independence in their leisure time. It also makes the journey to the park or leisure centre part of their exercise. Children need a full hour of exercise everyday to be fit and healthy, so Salsa will help to achieve this. As well as being good for people, walking and cycling means less use of cars. Over a million miles of traffic every year in the vicinity of the Gurnell Leisure Centre in West Ealing is created by people visiting the swimming pool. Many of these journeys are under ten minutes and could easily be walked or cycled. Getting out of the family car cuts down on air pollution. It also means that children are not looking to their parents to provide them with a taxi service. One of the parents’ greatest fears about letting them go out alone is concern about their children being attacked or molested. In fact the risk of abduction or attack is far lower than the risk of serious injury from a road accident. Publicity for Salsa is aimed at 10 to 12-year-olds. But the council points out that only youngsters and their parents together can actually make the scheme work. Salsa is all about building up the confidence to travel either alone or with friends safely and getting into the habit of walking or cycling.

Going by bike or on foot is not just healthier for us as individuals, it is better for everyone else and for our environment.

For more information about Salsa look out for the Salsa logo as you travel around the borough this summer. Or visit the website at www.ealing.gov.uk/salsa.

Remember we can now all walk and ride to the rhythm of Salsa!