Bikeability and the National Cycle Training Standard Bursaries

On 7 September, at a special event in Merseyside, Phillip Darnton and Rob Hayles, Olympic medallist and Commonwealth champion, unveiled the Bikeability award - the new cycling proficiency for the 21st Century. The event represented the first briefing on the biggest upgrade in cycle training for today's children, and comes after a doubling of Government funding for cycling.

Bikeability is designed to give the next generation the skills and confidence to ride their bikes in today's road conditions. It is based on the Government approved National Cycle Training Standard developed by over 20 organisations expert in training and safety. It will initially be trialed with 3,000 children in England to gear up for a national launch in Spring 2007 when the award is rolled out across the country. The aim is that by 2009, half of all year six pupils in England will be trained through schemes awarding Bikeability. To find out more visit www.bikeability.org.uk.

Bikeability has been developed by Cycling England with a range of partners and is supported by its cross-departmental Government group. Partners include the Department for Transport (DfT), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the Cycle Training Reference Group (the public body charged with being the custodians of the National Cycle Training Standard), the Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association (LARSOA), the Local Authority Cycling Association (LACA), CTC - the National Cyclists Organisation, British Cycling, and Transport for London (TfL).

Bikeability is being launched as a major initiative under Cycling England's £15million Young People's programme - aimed at boosting cycling amongst young people between 2006 and 2009. It includes substantial new funds to be dispersed for the local delivery of cycling.

For the first time, Cycling England will be able to provide funds for local authorities and schools to pay for National Standard Cycle Training. It is intended that during the three years of funding any local authority or school will be able to apply for funds. In the first year (i.e. the financial year 06/07) grant distribution will be for those authorities and schools which could immediately use funds to train additional children to the National Standard. A national grant scheme will be in place by March 2007 and at that time any local authority or school can apply. Applications will be assessed against a set of criteria agreed with DfT and DfES. Details of the scheme should be announced by January 2007.

To access the new funding for training potential recipients should register their interest in National Standards with CTC by calling 0870 607 0415 (office hours), emailing or visiting www.ctc.org.uk/cycletraining

 

Professional support services for your local authority

Cycling England has established a team of experts to provide advice to local authorities and other organisations who have the vision and enthusiasm to promote cycling and want to make a real difference. The advisory service can cover cycling policy, planning, engineering or promotion, and cycling for transport, health, tourism or recreation. The consultancy service is free, but in return we ask for a genuine commitment to the promotion of cycling.

Services available to you include:

Local Authority Professional Support

• Specialist consultancy advice on cycle planning, policy, monitoring and engineering issues. Much of this service can be offered to local authorities for no cost, although resources will be allocated on a needs basis.
  
  For more details, please contact Tony Russell at

Professional Skills Training

• A modular series of courses to develop technical skills and knowledge for local authority staff. Tailored packages, specific to your local authority's needs are available and offer excellent value for money.
  
  For more details, please contact Andy Costain at

National Cycle Training Standard

• Support for developing a network of accredited instructors and national award scheme. Bursaries are available to subsidise the cost of training the trainers and accrediting them to teach the National Cycle Training Standard.
  
  For information, please contact the National Cycle Training Helpline on 0870 607 0415 (office hours), email or visit www.ctc.org.uk

Additional services

• Information, advice and resources for local authorities and practitioners on Health and Communications topics are available on our website
  cyclingengland.co.uk
  
  
• For further health information, please contact Nick Cavill on
  
  
  
• For advice on communications, please contact
  
  
  

 

News in brief

Local Authority Cycling Association (LACA)                     

 

A new national organisation for cycle practitioners and professionals within local authorities has been set up - called the Local Authority Cycling Association (LACA). The LACA replaces the Local Authority Cycle Planning Group which was part of the now defunct National Cycling Strategy Board. The LACA is an independent body but is currently funded by Cycling England.

 

Membership of the LACA is free. Local Authority officers involved with cycling are encouraged to join. The role of the LACA is to encourage debate, share ideas and highlight issues between local authorities, Cycling England, the DfT and other organizations. A LACA website is in development along with an email forum and series of conferences and seminars. The first seminar will take place later this year and LACA is inviting its members to suggest themes and topics.

To join or find out more contact Lailaa Jooma, LACA Admin c/o Camden Consultancy Service, 4th Floor Bedford House, 125 Camden High Street, London NW1 7JR T: 020 7974 8747

Cycling England Roadshow

 

Last month, Cycling England teamed up with the Government Office North West (GONW) to hold a conference in Lancaster exploring how cycling and walking can help Local Authorities reach their strategic targets. More than 70 delegates attended the event, which comprised presentations in the morning by Nick Cavill, our health expert and Chris Spencer our education specialist. Peter Loker, Lancaster City Council's Corporate Director of Community Services, also shared Lancaster's experiences as a Cycling Demonstration Town, particularly Lancaster's work with employers. Themes raised were discussed in greater depth in an afternoon workshop.

Delegates tell us that they gathered valuable insights into the many opportunities presented for cycling by a range of Government policy areas, and many left the day committed to undertaking at least two actions to promote cycling.

Look out for details of future events in the next issue of Cycling England News.

Cycle to Work Leaflets

Encourage employers and employees in your area to take advantage of the new Cycle to Work tax-break scheme by downloading new promotional leaflets explaining how from our website:
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Cycle to Work is a government tax incentive aimed at encouraging employees to cycle to work, thereby improving their general health and reducing air pollution. The scheme allows employees to benefit from a long term loan of a bike and safety equipment completely tax free. Employers who purchase bikes and safety equipment for loan to their employees can treat the cost as capital expenditure and claim capital allowances in the normal way. For more information, visit www.bikeforall.net