Bikeability rolls out across the country with a brand new, even larger cycle training fund available for 2008/9

Don’t miss out in 2008/9!

The national roll-out of Bikeability, the Cycling Proficiency of the 21st Century began in earnest in March 2007. The scheme, launched in Leicester by the then Transport Minister, Tom Harris MP, signalled the biggest change in cycle training for decades. More than 50 training schemes across England are already accredited and can award their trained cyclists Bikeability badges.

The national launch followed the successful pilot in September 2006, involving more than 5,000 children across eight regions which showed:

• 83% of training organisers and instructors saw an increase in the number of children cycling to school
• 67% of children were cycling more after taking part
• 71% of teachers had more confidence in children cycling on roads post Bikeability training
• 60% of parents felt more confident with their children cycling on the roads

These powerful research findings ensured that there was a real buzz around Bikeability by the time we launched in the spring, with many children, schools and local authorities keen to participate.

Following the Leicester launch, Cycling England embarked on a tour, launching Bikeability officially in each English region. The enthusiasm for Bikeability and the new badges that children receive has been overwhelming in all the towns and cities visited. The campaign particularly captured the attention of the media with almost every single news broadcaster and national newspaper as well as hundreds of regional press and radio stations featuring Bikeability. Bikeability has now handed out over 20,000 badges to children across England.

2008/9 Cycle Training Fund:
Local authority enthusiasm for Bikeability was demonstrated when Cycling England made available a £1.15m cycle training fund with the fund oversubscribed by 50% within just two weeks. Details of the next cycle training fund will be advertised soon by Cycling England and the Department for Transport. The 2008/9 fund will be considerably larger this year and is likely to be around £3m, at least two thirds of which will be solely open to local authorities. The next fund will pay for additional cycle training for local authorities delivering national standard cycle training - in particular Bikeability.

Bursaries:
Cycling England is also offering additional help to local authorities to get their cycle training instructors accredited to the National Cycle Training Standards. Bursaries will cover at least 50% of the cost of the training programme that qualifies instructors to deliver Bikeability. The bursaries are going fast and we expect to run out during the winter months - apply soon to get yours!

Other help:
Cycling England has also been working with the newly formed Cycle Training Standards Board (CTSB), which looks after the Standards, to ensure making the transition to Bikeability is as simple as possible. The CTSB is working on introducing assistant instructor qualifications in time for 2008/9 so that volunteers can remain involved with cycle training, and also ensuring that fully qualified instructor courses are more flexible allowing more people to get trained up and accredited. Special modules for children with special needs or disabilities are also in development.

For more information about Bikeability, visit the website - www.bikeability.org.uk. Details of how to apply for the 2008/9 Cycle Training Fund will be available soon from the Department for Transport so watch this space. Details of how to apply for bursaries are available from the CTC which is managing their distribution on behalf of Cycling England. Contact for more details.