In the United Kingdom, there has been a decline in pupils walking, cycling or getting buses to school - with a corresponding rise in parents driving children to the school gates.

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But a few days later head teacher Mrs Groom received a shock when a local policeman visited the school to hand out cycling proficiency certificates.

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At the other end of the spectrum in cycling , only one out of 12 gold medallists went to private school - Sir Chris Hoy.

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More than a third of people cycle to work, university or school, making it arguably the cycling capital of the world.

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Cycling these days consists of going to the station a mile away, escorting the children to school, or popping down to the shops.

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