Praise for Bikeability cycle training in Devon

Bikeability cycle training in Devon has been given a glowing endorsement from parents whose children have taken part in the course.

A survey by Devon County Council and the Plymouth School Sports Partnership found that 95% of parents rated the cycle training in Devon highly or very highly.

The effect of providing Bikeability in Devon is also demonstrated by the fact that 64% of pupils who had completed the course would now ride their bikes three or more times a week.

Bikeability is a national initiative offering “cycling proficiency” for the 21st century which has been adopted by Devon County Council as the cycle training standard in the county.

Colin Savage, Devon County Council’s Sustainable Travel Officer, said: “More than 20,000 schoolchildren in Devon have received Bikeability training and another 7,000 will benefit this year. The importance of Bikeability was recognised in the recent ‘Get Britain Cycling’ report and Devon County Council is ensuring that cycle training is available, free of charge, for all schools in Devon. Schoolchildren who take part are given real cycling experience and skills which provides them with the road safety awareness to deal with traffic on short journeys, such as cycling to school. And it’s never too late to learn to cycle as free training is also available for adults through the County Council.”

Every parent who completed the survey was entered into a prize draw which was won by Zoey Laird, from Barnstaple, who won a new bike and cycle helmet for her son Sam.

Zoey said: “My son had only just learned how to ride a bike before starting Bikeability. The instructors were brilliant and they assured him that he had nothing to worry about as they were there to show him what to do and to keep him safe. After the first week of Bikeability I could already see that he felt more confident handling his bike.

“At the end of the course his confidence was so much better and he now actually enjoys riding his bike after school with his friends and is looking forward to lots of trips on the Tarka Trail this summer with his dad and brother, I can’t thank the instructors enough.”

The Plymouth School Sports Partnership has successfully won the contract to continue Bikeability training throughout the county on behalf of Devon County Council in 2013/14.

For more information on cycling in Devon or Bikeability courses go to http://www.cycledevon.info/