TfL to provide free Bikeability training to all kids in London

Transport for London (TfL) says it is to provide free Bikeability cycle training to every child living in the capital.

The initiative is part of TfL’s Delivery Plan for Schools and Young People and also ties in with its Safe Streets for London plan.

The latter is aimed at cutting the number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic incidents, including cyclists and pedestrians, by 40 per cent by 2020.

TfL says that within the last 12 months, around 39,000 children have benefited from cycle training in partnership with London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London.

It adds that schools not currently offering Bikeability training, which has three different levels, are being encouraged to do so by contacting their local authority’s road safety team or school travel plan officer.

Leon Daniels, managing director surface transport at TfL said: “We want to encourage a shift towards cycling and walking as part of the school journey and get more Londoners out of their cars during the school run.

“As well as encouraging schools to sign up for cycle training, by working with the boroughs and the police we will be expanding Cycle to School Partnerships across London over the next three years.

“As a result, we hope to embed a cycling culture within schools and London wide.

“This plan also sets out how we are working with young people to provide them with the skills they need to make informed, safe travel choices and even how they can be equipped with the skills that could help them on to a career in the transport industry.”

The Delivery Plan for Schools and Young People covers those up to the age of 25 living, working or studying in the capital, as well as those visiting it.

The five main goals TfL, working alongside partners including London boroughs and the police, hopes to achieve are:

Casualty reduction: reducing the number of young people killed or injured on and around London roads

Active and independent travel: promoting active travel choices such as cycling, walking and confident use of public transport

Community and personal safety: reducing the level of young people as offenders and victims of crime, and promoting secure and responsible travel

Skills and employment: using transport to access learning and training, and raising the awareness of careers in TfL, its suppliers and the transport industry and

Youth involvement: connecting with young people and youth stakeholders to involve them in informing, influencing and communicating TfL's priorities and key message.

Meanwhile, the six main commitments of the Safe Streets for London road safety plan, launched last month, are:

To lead the way in achieving a 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the capital's roads by 2020 - with a longer term ambition of freeing London's roads from death and serious injury

To prioritise safety of the most vulnerable groups - pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists - which make up 80 per cent of serious and fatal collisions;

To provide substantial funding for road safety, invested in the most effective and innovative schemes;

To increase efforts with the police and enforcement agencies in tackling illegal, dangerous and careless road user behaviour that puts people at risk

To campaign for changes in national and EU law to make roads, vehicles and drivers safer

To work in partnership with boroughs and London's road safety stakeholders to spread best practice and share data and information.