The Government has announced £20 million in funding for the Bikeability scheme, as it looks to ensure more children and families can cycle ‘confidently and safely’.
Bikeability is the Government’s flagship cycling training programme. Since it was formed in 2007, more than 3.6 million children have benefitted from the scheme.
At different levels of the scheme, children learn how to:
- develop early cycle handling and awareness skills (Bikeability Balance)
- master pedalling (Bikeability Learn to Ride)
- prepare for on-road cycling (Level 1)
- cycle on single-lane roads and simple junctions (Level 2)
- handle busier streets, complex junctions and roundabouts (Level 3)
The Government says the record investment has the potential to deliver half a million training places for children and their families over the next year.
It adds the funding will also ensure even more people are equipped with the ‘skills, confidence and knowledge to cycle on our roads’.
Trudy Harrison, active travel minister, said: “Cycling helps both our planet and our wellbeing, and learning to cycle is also an important life skill.
“Our ambition is for every child to be able to access Bikeability training and I’m delighted we’ve been able to invest a record £20 million to help make this a reality.”
Emily Cherry, CEO at the Bikeability Trust, said: “We have already trained more than 3.6 million children how to cycle confidently and safely. This record investment will help us to achieve our ambition of offering every child cycle training.
“Bikeability teaches children an essential life skill that benefits their health and helps them make more sustainable travel choices.
“Getting children cycling when they’re young embeds active habits for life, gives them the independence to travel to school and, most importantly, helps them discover how fun cycling is.”
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