Bikeability day promises a whole lot of fun

Children aged between seven and 10 years old are being invited to participate in a special ‘Bikeability and Skills Day’ on Tuesday 27 October.

The fun event, for children who can already ride a bike, will run 9.30am – 2.30pm at Belfairs High School in Leigh-on-Sea. The course will cover everything required to gain level one Bikeability.

Bikeability is described as ‘today’s cycle training programme – like cycling proficiency, but better’. There are three Bikeability levels – Levels 1, 2 and 3 – to take trainees from the basics of balance and control, through to planning and making an independent journey on busier roads.

The Leigh-on-Sea course involves all the basics required to be safe on a bike including starting and stopping, looking behind and signalling.

Participants will also be taught how to check that their bike is in good working order, and there will then be plenty of opportunities to practice newly-learned skills in fun challenges and games.

Councillor Martin Terry, Southend’s Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Waste and Transport, said: “It is essential that children learn to ride their bikes safely right from the start, and courses like this are an ideal way to make sure they have expert guidance from the very beginning. We hope as many people as possible take up this opportunity.”

Children who haven’t got their own bike can hire one for the course, which costs £25 per child with their own bike or £30 per child with a hired bike.

For more details and/or to book a place visit: www.cyclesouthend.co.uk, call 01702 215595 or email: cyclesouthend@southend.gov.uk

More about Bikeability

In August 2015 the DfT launched a new-look Bikeability website in order to make it easier for people to find out about the scheme and the course providers in their local area including Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

There is also a separate new Bikeablity professionals’ site for current providers, and others interested in finding out how to get involved with providing Bikeability.

Professional Bikeability providers deliver on road and off road training to groups in schools, through clubs, to families or individually to children, adults, new learners and experienced cyclists.

The new site also include resources for use in the classroom or at home, including a range of cycling-themed discussions, creative ideas and lesson plans, designed to make children passionate about cycling and its benefits.

8 October 2015