School Cycle Training Places Through The Bikeability Programme

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Earlier this year (2011), the Department for Transport (DfT) announced funding support for the Bikeability project. For the financial year 2011/12, £11mn has been earmarked to provide 275,000 cycle training places to school children aged 10–11. Norman Baker, Transport Minister, stated on 19 October 2011 that £2,083,976 had been allocated to 206 schools across England, funding over 50,000 Bikeability training places.

Bikeability is a cycling proficiency programme designed to provide the next generation with the skills and confidence required to cycle on today’s busy roads. The programme is based on three bikeability levels: Level 1 is initiated soon after a child has learnt to ride a bicycle; 10–11 year olds progress through to Level 2; and 11–18 year olds to Level 3. Children are encouraged to progress through all three levels and at each stage are awarded with badges and certificates.

Bikeability has received the support of more than 20 professional organisations, among them the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, as well as various cross-government departments, for example the Department for Transport, Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health. With hundreds of thousands of bikeability badges already awarded, the aim is to have half-a-million children bikeability proficient by 2012 and, ultimately, every child given the opportunity to participate in bikeability training before leaving primary school. The cycling revolution received substantial impetus in 2010 through the vision of London as a cyclised city and the designation of 2010 as the Year of Cycling. In this year, three major programmes were launched in the Capital: the London Cycle Hire Scheme (sponsored by Barclays bank); Cycle Superhighways and Biking Boroughs. The Mayor of London, working with Transport for London (TfL), has pledged to deliver a 400 per cent increase in cycling by 2026, compared to cycling numbers in 2001, using the aforementioned initiatives to ensure that biking across the Capital is safer and more convenient.

The cycling revolution in the Capital has received much publicity and support from major events, with the emphasis on mass participation. Sky Rides, for example, was a fun day out which effectively raised awareness of cycling as an alternative and, importantly, ‘green’ way of travelling around the city. Outside of the Capital, Southend-On-Sea enjoyed its own cycling revolution, winning Cycle Town status back in 2009 and, consequently, receiving a £3.2mn government grant to advance the borough’s cycling facilities.

Bikeability has already benefitted by this award. The borough council has more than 29 bikeability instructors; free bikeability courses are operational in all 28 Southend primary schools, with courses extended into special schools, private schools and some secondary schools; and free cycle training is available to adults living or working in the borough.

Norman Baker, Transport Minister, said "This government is strongly committed to cycling — it is a crucial part of building a healthy and sustainable transport network for the future. That is why we have

provided £11mn of funding this year for the Bikeability programme, which not only promotes the benefits of cycling as a healthy and enjoyable way of getting around but enables children to do it safely and confidently."

This feature will be updated by the Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook as policy and legislation develops.