A PUPIL from Meadows First School will be riding in the right direction after the sign he designed for Bromsgrove’s new walking and cycling routes won him £300 worth of bike vouchers.
Oliver Simms came up with a sign which outlined the environmental benefits of travelling by foot, bike or scooter.
Worcestershire County Council, which organised the competition, received around 1,400 entries from Finstall First School, Meadows First School, St Johns Church of England Middle School, Millfields First School and Oliver’s was chosen by the judges.
His winning entry has now been made into a prototype by sign manufacturers and will feature around 50 times throughout the new cycle and walk routes.
Coun Ken Pollock said: “We’ve had some really creative designs submitted to us during the competition and every designer really did themselves and their school proud.
“The new signs will hopefully make the routes much clearer to view and follow, and will hopefully encourage people to get out and about in Bromsgrove without using a car.
“Their creation is a good indicator that the scheme to improve walking and cycling in Bromsgrove has progressed well.”
Each school which entered has received prizes to encourage students to walk, cycle or scoot to school and Meadows First School has won active travel related prices thanks to Oliver’s win.
The new Bromsgrove routes are part of a £3.4million walking and cycling National Productivity Investment Fund scheme for the area, which is being funded by the Department for Transport.
The scheme aims to make the transport network in Bromsgrove more efficient, particularly at peak travel times, helping to reduce the levels of congestion.
Ongoing projects include upgrading the crossing on Hanover Street and converting the two pelican crossings in Market Street to toucan crossings (enabling cyclists to cross as well as pedestrians).
Segregated and shared cycle ways are being introduced and the pathways and bridge in Sanders Park are also being improved.
