With Cycle to School Week taking place between the 3rd to 7th October, Bikeability instructors have started a new year of training in schools.
The instructors teach children in years 5 and 6 key cycle skills. During the week, run by national charity Sustrans to encourage more children to cycle to and from school across the UK, they will teach children in 10 local primary schools.
Colin Le Page of Traffic & Highway Services, commented: “Bikeability training, formerly known as cycling proficiency, has seen great success in recent years. The training not only inspires confidence in young people to cycle to school, which is a great way to be active and improve concentration in class, but it also provides them with a life skill that will benefit them into adulthood.
“Cycle to School Week is a great opportunity to give cycling to school a go and we’d encourage children and their parents to take part in the week and Bikeability training taking place in their schools.”
Alex Costen, active travel officer at the Health Improvement Commission, is keen to work with schools and families to promote cycling, as well as walking, as part of daily life, instead of using the car for everyday journeys: “Cycling helps both our planet and our wellbeing. Learning to cycle is also an important life skill, which we hope children will continue to enjoy into adulthood.
“During Cycle to School Week, run by The Bikeability Trust, we hope families and children make a pledge to swap even one or two journeys during the week, or perhaps to go out with their family at the weekend and discover somewhere new on a cycle ride.”
The Health Improvement Commission has also recently provided financial backing to enable a series of adult cycle skills courses, with the support of the Bikeability instructors. They are hoping this will give adults who might just need some extra confidence to start cycling as a regular means of getting around the island.
Frankie Middleton, a Bikeability instructor comments: “As the new terms start again, we’re pleased to have a new schedule in place and to teach as many children as we can the training course, giving them core skills so they can enjoy cycling with friends and family and even start to incorporate it as a regular means of travelling to school.”
For further information about adult Bikeability training, please email here.
