Extra funding for Bikeability cycle training

Devon County Council has secured an additional £20,000 from the Department for Transport to train 1,000 children to Level One standard of Bikeability cycle training.

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.

The Level One training is for children in Years Three and Four at schools in Devon (excluding Torbay and Plymouth) and includes training in basic cycle skills in an off-road environment.

This latest funding is in addition to £300,000 awarded to Devon County Council earlier in the year which is funding Bikeability for 7,500 children.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for cycling, said: “This is the first time that the Department for Transport has provided funding specifically for Level One training, so it is very welcome.

"I’m delighted that primary schoolchildren in Devon have the opportunity to take part in this training, which not only provides essential cycling skills but also promotes road safety awareness and healthy exercise.

"By enabling us to reach even more children, it will help the County Council in its aim for every child leaving primary school to have successfully completed Level Two training.”

More than 30,000 schoolchildren in Devon have received Bikeability training since the County Council started delivering the courses in Exeter in 2006 before extending it countywide in 2010.

The cycle training is free for children and available until 31 March 2015.

For more information on cycling in Devon or to book Bikeability courses visit www.cycledevon.info