TO CELEBRATE this year’s “Big Walk and Wheel” challenge, a Caernarfon bike shop is offering half-price bike hire for schoolchildren.

Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is the UK’s largest walking, wheeling, scooting, and cycling challenge, and this year is held between March 20-31.

It was set up to inspires pupils to make active journeys to school and improve air quality in their neighbourhood.

According to stats released by Sustrans, a UK-based walking and cycling charity, in 2022, 1,335 tonnes of carbon dioxide was avoided as a result of the 10-day challenge.

And pupils at 1,519 schools made 2,096,336 journeys to school by foot, wheelchair, scooter and cycle.

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To celebrate the challenge, Beics Antur, a cycle hire shop, is offering half-price bike hire.

Beics Antur’s site at Porth yr Aur was developed into a health and wellbeing centre, with bike hire, a repair shop, a wellbeing loft available to hire for health and wellbeing activities, and a sensory room, in a project worth £1million.

The business is part of Antur Waunfawr, a wider social enterprise that offers employment, training, and wellbeing opportunities to adults with learning difficulties.

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A spokesperson said: “Getting children to cycle at a young age is important.

“It helps them develop physically, in working on their cardiovascular muscles and their lungs and hearts.

“It also improves important life skills such as co-ordination and balance.

“Cycling can also boost confidence, foster independence and allows them to grow mentally.

“Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel challenge is an opportunity to celebrate these benefits of cycling, and we look forward to play our part by offering half price bike hire.”

Beics Antur’s bike hire, sales and repairs shop is located at Porth-yr-Aur, High Street, Caernarfon, LL55 1RN.