Almost 300 students from 20 Hackney schools participated in one of London’s largest-ever bike rides for young people.

For the third consecutive year, a huge contingent of Hackney pupils took to the roads in a nine mile ride.

Starting at Well Street Common, riders passed through Hackney Downs, Clissold Park and Hackney Road, finishing at London Fields.With a total of 401 adults and pupils, the event is almost certainly the largest ever bike ride for schools in London and the UK.

Bike Around the Borough - previously awarded the School Project of the Year, award by the London Cycling Campaign - took place on 27 June and was organised by Hackney Council and the Hackney Police Safer Transport Team.

The ride provides a chance for students to practice skills learned through cycle training and to help them realise how easy it is to travel around the borough by bike. The Council offers free cycle training courses to all schools for year six students and, last year, 887 Hackney students received on-road cycle training through the borough’s cycle training programme.

After the ride, a celebration in London Fields included live music from Five-0, a mountain bike stunt show from MAD, and a chance for participants to test their BMX skills with the Hackney BMX club.

Hackney has been recognised nationally for its innovative approaches to encouraging cycling. Initiatives such as free training for children and adults, 20-mile-per-hour limits on all Council controlled residential roads and awareness training for HGV drivers mean that the borough now has the highest rates of cycling amongst London residents.

Bike Around the Borough is part of the Council’s efforts to increase cycling and make Hackney the most cycle-friendly borough in London.