Coping with congestion on the daily commute, you can see why pedal power could become more appealing.

Aims to reduce levels of C02, combined with the importance of encouraging children to stay fit and healthy, have led to Bradford becoming a ambassador for getting people on their bikes.

Schemes such as Sky Ride, a national event encouraging thousands in the district to participate in a family-themed cycling event, and the recently launched Bike Hub at Bradford College, along with the countless organisations promoting the importance of cycling, are helping to put Bradford on the biking map.

A year ago Emily Picken, who works for national charity Sustrans, promoting sustainable transport through a cycle network, took up her role as Bike It officer for Bradford.

During that time, Emily has seen increasing interest in cycling and believes the district has been inspired by the ‘Sir Bradley Wiggins effect’ following the road and track cyclist’s gold medal success in the London Olympics and his triumph in the 2012 Tour de France.

Cycling is something anybody can do and with free training offered district-wide through organisations such as Bikeability and Go Ride, there’s no excuse not to get on your bike.

Promoting cycling among children is something Emily is keen to do through the Big Pedal competition. Seven schools in the district have already signed up to participate in the three-week competition held throughout February and March.

Other events, such as Bling Your Bike, encouraging youngsters to decorate their bikes with a spring theme, and Dr Bike, a series of sessions fixing broken bikes, will be held at schools, along with other activities aimed at promoting cycling.

Emily says during the Big Pedal, participating schools can tot-up points for the number of pupils, parents and teachers who cycle to school. They will be given a national ranking.

This year, the charity is hoping for 1,000 schools nationally to take part in the competition aimed at encouraging one million journeys to be made by bike.

“Obviously there is a massive problem around all our schools with congestion and parking, so we’re trying to get people to think in terms of sustainable transport,” says Emily.

“We are heading into an obesity epidemic with children. They are supposed to do an hour of exercise every day so if they cycle or walk they’re going a long way to reaching that. If a child is coming to school under their own steam, they come more awake, more alert.”

She adds: “There is a lot of evidence to support how important cycling is, and there are also issues with transport poverty. People are getting priced out of owning a car. But they can do a lot of everyday journeys by bike.”

Emily has noticed increasing numbers of people cycling in the district. “I think the Bradley Wiggins effect is having an impact,” she says.

She says local cycling clubs are also experiencing the benefits, with at least one club seeing its membership double.

Mandy Parker, a volunteer coach with East Bradford Cycle Club which runs a Saturday bike club for youngsters at Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Odsal, says: “We’ve had a huge increase on the average number of children attending.

“There is no doubt about it – there has been a huge Olympic effect.”

Emily believes the cycling resurgence could be a great boost to Bradford. “I think we under-estimate the potential we have to be a cycling city,” she says.

“The more people I see, especially on the Aire Valley road, and the amount of people who want to get out on their bikes doing recreational cycling on a weekend, is something we really could excel at.”

Emily is keen to practice what she preaches by cycling to work. “I live outside Keighley and my journey to work, if I did it by car, would cost £6 a day, and there is the CO2 with that. And I get into work faster.”

She hopes the Big Pedal will encourage more people to get pedalling.

“Once you have cycled to work or school, you start to think it’s not bad. There are lots of advantage to this.

“We are making people make that first step to doing it.”

For more information about the Big Pedal competition, call (01274) 437402. For more about East Bradford Cycle Club, call 07917 860292.