Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

More than half of parents agree cycle training should be added to National Curriculum

News comes as Halfords and Bikeability Trust announce three year sponsorship deal

More than half of parents of schoolchildren in Britain are calling for cycle training to be added to the National Curriculum, according to a survey commissioned by Halfords, the country’s biggest cycling retailer.

A total of 56 per cent of parents quizzed called for the training, which comprises three levels under with the National Standards for Cycle Training and replaced the former Cycling Proficiency Test, to be made compulsory in schools.

Meanwhile, 60 per cent agreed that more money should be spent on schemes designed to make cycling safer for children, even if that meant cash being diverted from other initiatives.

The release of the results of the survey coincides with the announcement that the retailer has agreed to sponsor the Bikeability Trust for three years, backing it to the tune of £1 million and enabling a further 25,000 children to benefit from the programme.

As part of its backing of the initiative, Halfords will perform safety tests on bikes belonging to children signed up to Bikeability training at their schools.

Graham Stapleton, CEO of Halfords, commented: “We are delighted to partner with the Bikeability Trust, and we are really proud to be able to help 25,000 more children to discover the joy of riding a bike.

“Safe cycling unlocks confidence and encourages daily activity. By helping more children cycle more safely and more often, families will be inspired to get out on their bikes.”

The findings have been reported on by media outlets including Mail Online and the Daily Express, with Edmund King, president of the AA, telling the latter that giving children cycle training should make them better motorists later in life.

He said: “The AA has also called for road safety to be part of the national curriculum and for Bikeability training to be offered in all schools. This initiative is a positive step.

“A few years ago, we distributed 5 million small 'Think bike' stickers via Halfords for drivers to put on their wing mirrors to remind them to be aware.

“We have also introduced a safer cycling module into AA and BSM driving schools so that new drivers are taught about driving safety around cyclists,” he continued.

“Many drivers are cyclists and many younger cyclists become drivers. 'Hence we need to promote safe cycling and more harmony on our roads.”

Cycling minister Jesse Norman welcomed the partnership between Halfords and the Bikeability Trust, saying: “The benefits of cycling and walking are enormous. For people, it means cheaper travel and better health.

“For businesses, it means increased productivity and increased footfall in shops, and for society as a whole it means lower congestion, better air quality, and vibrant, attractive places.

“Halfords' investment in cycle training for children is a great boost for the delivery of the Bikeability programme.

“This investment in the future generation of cyclists will allow us to reach and train more children than ever before,” he added.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

11 comments

Avatar
Kendalred | 6 years ago
2 likes

"The findings have been reported on by media outlets including Mail Online and the Daily Express (link is external), with Edmund King, president of the AA, telling the latter that giving children cycle training should make them better motorists later in life."

No, you cockwomble, it's to make them more confident and able cyclists in later life. The implication here, that 'adults drive - kids cycle', is pretty feckin frustrating if you ask me.

Avatar
ClubSmed replied to Kendalred | 6 years ago
0 likes

KendalRed wrote:

"The findings have been reported on by media outlets including Mail Online and the Daily Express (link is external), with Edmund King, president of the AA, telling the latter that giving children cycle training should make them better motorists later in life."

No, you cockwomble, it's to make them more confident and able cyclists in later life. The implication here, that 'adults drive - kids cycle', is pretty feckin frustrating if you ask me.

or quite possibly that is  the perspective that the President of an organisation funded by motorists should have? I would be pretty upset if the President of an organisation I paid money into for representing a particular interest I had decided to make a statement for promoting another interest that could stop funding for the primary interest that the organisation is there for!

The guy is paid to promote the needs of motorists, why on earth do you think that he should or would promote cycling as a way to reduce motorists and therefor his organisations income?

Avatar
brooksby | 6 years ago
0 likes

Given the number of subjects that the dfe tries to remove from the national curriculum , it's unlikely that they'd ever *add* new subjects...

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
3 likes

Yes, let's indoctrinate kids to think that they have to wear helmets and hi-vis whilst riding, that's bqsically what bikeability does.

Why are we holding our most vulnerable in society to shoulder part of the responsibility/blame for the piss poor actions of those in killing machines?

If I see a child cycling on/near or playing/walking by side of a road I can predict almost with certainty what they might do, simply because they are children. I don't need for them to have had training to make things easier for me because I know as the adult, the one with the responsibility and by definition because of the weapon I'm conveying myself about in, it's my actions, my thinking, my anticipation and using experience to make sure they do not come to harm,

How is this much different to green cross code bullshit, 'gory story' giovernment victim blaming  campaigns that basically say, if you don't take responsibility for protecting yourself/making sure you're seen etc, you'll get hurt and it's your fault!

How about we make it compulsary for all motors to only be able to do 20mph in urban areas, how about we ban motors from school areas at going in/out time, how about we hold those in the killing machines accountable and have a compulsary training and retest programme rolled out with a massively higher standard than we currently do and actually exceeds what is taught in advanced motoring because much of the thinking there is still motorcentric based and still doesn't put enough responsibility onto the driver when around the vulnerable. How bout we make compulsary for every driver to have to bike in urban conditions for two weeks in a busy town or city without hi-vis/helmet and they cannot go on the footway.

Nope, solution is to bend children to the adults way of thinking which is fucked anyway.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
1 like

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Yes, let's indoctrinate kids to think that they have to wear helmets and hi-vis whilst riding, that's bqsically what bikeability does.

Why are we holding our most vulnerable in society to shoulder part of the responsibility/blame for the piss poor actions of those in killing machines?

If I see a child cycling on/near or playing/walking by side of a road I can predict almost with certainty what they might do, simply because they are children. I don't need for them to have had training to make things easier for me because I know as the adult, the one with the responsibility and by definition because of the weapon I'm conveying myself about in, it's my actions, my thinking, my anticipation and using experience to make sure they do not come to harm,

How is this much different to green cross code bullshit, 'gory story' giovernment victim blaming  campaigns that basically say, if you don't take responsibility for protecting yourself/making sure you're seen etc, you'll get hurt and it's your fault!

How about we make it compulsary for all motors to only be able to do 20mph in urban areas, how about we ban motors from school areas at going in/out time, how about we hold those in the killing machines accountable and have a compulsary training and retest programme rolled out with a massively higher standard than we currently do and actually exceeds what is taught in advanced motoring because much of the thinking there is still motorcentric based and still doesn't put enough responsibility onto the driver when around the vulnerable. How bout we make compulsary for every driver to have to bike in urban conditions for two weeks in a busy town or city without hi-vis/helmet and they cannot go on the footway.

Nope, solution is to bend children to the adults way of thinking which is fucked anyway.

I'd be quite happy for all of those suggestions to be made law, but I suspect that we'd need to get Chris Boardman made Prime Minister (or Emperor) before that's got a chance of happening. Maybe some of those items are achievable though - 20mph limits are being introduced but not enforced.

Avatar
Jimmy Ray Will replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
2 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Yes, let's indoctrinate kids to think that they have to wear helmets and hi-vis whilst riding, that's bqsically what bikeability does.

Why are we holding our most vulnerable in society to shoulder part of the responsibility/blame for the piss poor actions of those in killing machines?

If I see a child cycling on/near or playing/walking by side of a road I can predict almost with certainty what they might do, simply because they are children. I don't need for them to have had training to make things easier for me because I know as the adult, the one with the responsibility and by definition because of the weapon I'm conveying myself about in, it's my actions, my thinking, my anticipation and using experience to make sure they do not come to harm,

How is this much different to green cross code bullshit, 'gory story' giovernment victim blaming  campaigns that basically say, if you don't take responsibility for protecting yourself/making sure you're seen etc, you'll get hurt and it's your fault!

How about we make it compulsary for all motors to only be able to do 20mph in urban areas, how about we ban motors from school areas at going in/out time, how about we hold those in the killing machines accountable and have a compulsary training and retest programme rolled out with a massively higher standard than we currently do and actually exceeds what is taught in advanced motoring because much of the thinking there is still motorcentric based and still doesn't put enough responsibility onto the driver when around the vulnerable. How bout we make compulsary for every driver to have to bike in urban conditions for two weeks in a busy town or city without hi-vis/helmet and they cannot go on the footway.

Nope, solution is to bend children to the adults way of thinking which is fucked anyway.

 

See, this post annoys me. 

I was all, 'yeah, make cycle proficiency compulsory for kids, teach them how to do, make them confident, make cycling accessible' and then the above comment brings  a hard case of reality in to piss on my idealistic vision.

Personally speaking, I'd love my kids to get some formal training... from my attempts, it is clear that I am a useless teacher, and I know they respond brilliantly to good tuition.

However, as mentioned, the responsbility should not sit with kids. Adutls are a) adults and able to make responsbile considered decisions, and b) have passed a test that demonstrates that they have gained sufficient knowledge / skills to drive safely. The responsbility should sit with them... I am resigned to teh fact that any compulsory training would primarily be used to get drivers off the hook when involved in cyclist / car collisions.

I also agree that in truth, the bulk of any compulsory training would be about safety... or more accurately, focus on emphasising the danger of cycling, whilst advocating inconvenience and comical dress code for anyone poor, under-achieving enough to be restricted to a bike as a transport choice. 

sad times. 

 

Avatar
Wigan | 6 years ago
4 likes

I’d make all adults take a cycling proficiency test every time they renew their licence, though annual test in shit weather would be better.  And it’d have to be during the school run/rush hour traffic. 

No excuses, can’t ride a bike? Hire a trike for the test, if you fail that part you don’t get a licence. 

Avatar
Beecho replied to Wigan | 6 years ago
0 likes

Wigan wrote:

I’d make all adults take a cycling proficiency test every time they renew their licence, though annual test in shit weather would be better.  And it’d have to be during the school run/rush hour traffic. 

I tend to arrive at the office, opposite a school, during the school run. I sometimes think I’d be safer walking between a grizzly and her cub.

Avatar
Simon E | 6 years ago
3 likes

bsknight wrote:

What do parents do these days?

Too many of them drive their kids to school in the car, using it like a snowplough, before parking on the pavement / zig-zags / double yellow lines.

Bikeability or Cycling proficiency on its own really isn't enough. What's needed is that the kids - and especially their parents - learn how important it is to genuinely respect all road users. Overtake that cyclist / treat that pedestrian who's about to cross as if it's your own child.

Avatar
bsknight | 6 years ago
1 like

What do parents do these days?

My parents taught me social skills, how to swim & cycle, how to eat healthily (according to the guidelines of the time) and to cook basic stuff accordingly, how to use money wisely, and many other things. It seems that now parents want the state to take over all of this while voting, in effect, for an underfunded state with no resources to do all the things they couln't be bothered to do.

Avatar
Canyon48 | 6 years ago
3 likes

YES!

Getting kids involved and getting kids cycling is great.

All children should have the opportunity to do cycling and swimming, it's a great shame that many kids cannot ride or swim (in fact, lots don't have the opportunity to do so).

Latest Comments