Cycle training for school children helps families cycle together

Bikeability cycle training is helping families in Devon to cycle together, according to a new survey by Devon County Council.

The survey results come as the County Council has successfully secured £264,000 of funding from the Department for Transport to provide cycle training for another 6,600 children in 2015/16.

Bikeability is a national initiative providing “cycling proficiency” for the 21st century which has been adopted by Devon County Council as the cycle training standard in the county.

Just over 350 parents in Devon completed the County Council’s Bikeability questionnaire. Of them, over 91% said they intend to ride more as a family since their child completed the Bikeability course, and over 90% rated the course highly or very highly.

The survey found that before undergoing the training, just over 82% of parents said their child never cycled to school, but since training, just over 40% now cycle to school between one and five days a week. Almost 65% also said their child cycled once or twice a week in their free time.

Following the training, more than 84% felt their child had developed a high or very high level of ability or safety, and more than 88% said their child now has high confidence or very high confidence in controlling their bike.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for cycling, said: “Receiving such positive feedback on the Bikeability cycle training is a glowing endorsement of the scheme, and I’m pleased that we have been awarded the funding from the Department for Transport to continue the training. Over 33,000 children have received Bikeability training in Devon over the past nine years, and another 6,600 schoolchildren in Devon will now be able to benefit from this well established scheme.

“The fact that parents have highlighted that their children are cycling more often is great news and it’s encouraging that the training is helping families to cycle together more. Bikeability provides schoolchildren with road safety awareness as well as equipping them with the skills and confidence to cycle short journeys, such as cycling to school.”

Parents who completed the Bikeability survey were entered into a draw to win a bike for their child. It was won by 12-year-old Kingsbridge College pupil Chloe Prescott, who completed her Level 2 Bikeability training while at Stokenham School.

The Plymouth School Sports Partnership has recently been awarded the contract to continue providing Bikeability and adult cycle training throughout the county on behalf of Devon County Council.

For more information on cycling in Devon or Bikeability courses go to http://www.cycledevon.info/ or on Twitter follow @CycleDevon