TO BOOK BIKEABILITY TRAINING IN YOUR SCHOOL CONTACT:
Lance Chatfield - Community School Sports Manager:
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.plymouthssp.co.uk/content/bikeability-devon
Mobile: 07967 488315 Landline: 01752 515384
Plymouth School Sports Partnership
Sir John Hunt Community Sports College
Lancaster Gardens
Whitleigh
Plymouth
PL5 4AA
To book on a Bikeability holiday course - click here
What is Bikeability?
Bikeability is the new cycle proficiency course for the 21st century, designed to give the next generation the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today’s roads. Children are encouraged and inspired to achieve all three levels, recognising that there is always more to learn and to enjoy on a bike. Bikeability Level 2 is for children of ten years and older and gives trainees a real cycling experience so that they are able to deal with traffic on short journeys such as cycling to school.
How do schools access Bikeability training?
Since the launch of Bikeability in 2006, Devon County Council has successfully bid and received funding from the Department for Transport. This financial years allocation is £240,000, to train 6000 children to Bikeability Level 2 standard, from April 2011 to 31st March 2012.
We are expecting our current application of nearly £1m to the Dept for Transport for the next three years, to be successful. This funding will be used to deliver both Level 2 and Level 3 training to children from 9 to 14 years old.
It is easily available for all schools in Devon (excluding Torbay and Plymouth) through Devon County Council. Bikeability is intended to be accessbile for all children and all schools. Schools do not need to be affiliated to any particular partnership.
From Sept 2011, through the tender process, Devon County Council has awarded the Bikeability contract for the whole of Devon, to a consortium of Devon cycle training organisations - The Plymouth School Sports Partnership, EXECEL at Cycling, The Cycling Partnership & Westcountry Cycle Training.
This will be led by the newly merged Plymouth School Sports Partnership, who have a proven track record of delivery of Bikeability. We believe they can offer the highest quality service and best value to the people of Devon and will enhance and streamline our cycle training service.
Our vision
The Council’s cycling vision is more people cycling, more safely, more often.
Our aims and objectives
- Every child leaving primary school has successfully completed Bikeability Level 2 training.
- Every primary school runs Bikeability training for all ten year olds
- Ensuring Bikeability training is a very positive experience and will enthuse and inspire trainees and in turn, family and friends to make more and safer cycle journeys
Why is cycle training needed?
2010 MORI poll about Bikeability revealed:
• Nearly all children who had taken part in Bikeability said it has improved their skills in judging risks, signalling and passing parked vehicles.
• 90% of children said they feel more confident about cycling on roads
• 92% of parents said they thought Bikeability had improved their child’s safety
• Both parents and children reported an increase in their cycling following Bikeability training
Adult and childhood obesity are at epidemic levels in the UK. Cycling is an important way to incorporate regular physical activity into daily lives. It also addresses other key public health agendas including reducing carbon emissions and improving social inclusion.
For the full report please click here
Learn Cycling by yourself
If you wish to go through the course modules by yourself, ‘DIY’ cycle training pages are downloadable. This is a step-by step guide to learning to cycle through to cycling on roads. Fit2Ride
De-stabiliser training
Parents wishing to teach their children to cycle without stabilisers can download this leaflet: "Learn to Ride a Bike"
Hopefully, you've found the information you were looking for. If you need to know more about de-stabiliser training or other cycle information, we've put together a list of resources you should find very useful.
