Bikeability – free and vital cycle training for children could be at risk without more volunteers.
What is it?
Bikeability is the modern-day successor to Cycling Proficiency delivered by Lincolnshire County Council in partnership with Outspoken Training.
It is an evolution from the playground-based cycle training of old with progressive levels for pupils to advance through so that they improve their cycling skills.
The use of cycles on the county’s highways has increased over the last 10 years and the county council believes that the training of young cyclists is vital before they venture out onto the roads.
Children and schools have valued Bikeability in Lincolnshire for more than a decade. In the last year over 5,000 Lincolnshire children took part in the training across more than 180 schools, and, since starting, Bikeability has seen more than 50,000 children go from cycling beginners to two-wheeled superstars.
Level 1 will be familiar to many who recall the Cycling Proficiency days. It is playground based and takes around half a day to complete. Wannabe cycling superstars just starting out learn basic bike handling and observation skills like looking over a shoulder while keeping their bike steady or riding with one hand away from the handlebars to demonstrate ability to signal to other traffic. Much of the training takes place in the form of games and challenges.
Level 2 sees the training ramped up and is quite different from what we may all remember from Cycling Proficiency training. Rather than the artificial traffic environment of the school playground, trainees develop their skills in a real-world traffic situation. Elements such as road positioning, observation, making safe turns, and signalling intention to traffic are brought into sharp focus and developed.
Level 3 is available for older pupils at the end of Year 6 and upwards into secondary school. At this level group sizes are smaller and trainees learn how to deal with more intricate road layouts such as; roundabouts, traffic lights, multi-laned roads and how to safely filter. This training equips children for independent travel to secondary school by bicycle with the confidence to deal with a variety of road situations.
Bikeability also helps children develop their wider confidence and self-esteem. Many children have gone from barely being able to ride a bike at the start of day one into being confident and able cyclists by the end of the training. Most importantly, every Bikeability session aims to have children finishing their training with a smile.
5,000 Lincolnshire children took part in the training in the last year
180 schools have employed the services of Bikeability to improve the cycling skills of their pupils
50,000 children have gone from beginners to two-wheeled superstars
Become an instructor
If you would like to be a part of the next wave of cycling proficiency in our county, then you’re very much needed! Outspoken, the trainers of Bikeability to young cyclists, are on the lookout for new instructors.
If you think you could help train the next generation of cyclists then get in touch with Outspoken via outspokentraining.co.uk/bikeability.
Our new instructors are given full training, uniform and a competitive rate of pay. All schools around the county take part in the training programme so there’s certain to be some training taking place near you. Being a Bikeability Instructor is something that can fit around your existing commitments, training generally takes place during school hours although some holiday tuition timeslots are available.
Additionally, you have the opportunity to be part of a team of professional instructors who all have the satisfaction of seeing real development and improved ability in the children they work with.
If you’re a school
Has your Lincolnshire school not yet become involved with the cycle skills set? Taking part in the Bikeability programme is very straightforward. Contact Outspoken directly, who will be able to deliver everything you need to get kids cycling in a safe and happy way.