AN Evesham charity is trialling its own innovative way to cut emissions and encourage children to be healthy and active.

Evesham Adventure Playground Association’s new Bicycle Bus can carry up to 10 children at a time, with the assistance of much-needed adult supervision and steering.

Nearly every seat has pedals, so it’s very much a group effort, but there’s also a battery and six gears to make the climbs easier.

Originally purchased last year with the help of generous donations from local businesses, community groups and residents, delivery only actually took place just before Christmas due to Brexit and Covid complications.

The delays meant that the charity manage to secure two second-hand bikes for the original budget.

EAPA programme manager Dave Boucker said, “we bought the Bicycle Buses as part of our ‘greening’ programme, and we’ll be using them to replace some journeys made previously in our diesel minibus. Our main aim is to pick up children from local schools as part of our after-school club, but we’re open to other uses, so who knows where else you might see them.

“They’re good for the planet, and great fun to ride, so long as the weather is kind!”.

The Bike Buses have been imported from the Netherlands, and are believed to be the first of their kind in the UK.

EAPA hopes that they become a prominent centrepiece of active travel in Evesham and beyond – they have already sparked interest from the south of England and as far north as Scotland, with more enquiries still coming in.

For more information about Evesham Adventure Playground Association, contact info@eveshamadventureplayground.org, or visit eveshamadventureplayground.org