Charlie Kelly from Longwell Green Primary School was the lucky winner of a £200 cycle voucher as he became the 10,000th child to receive cycle training in South Gloucestershire and Bristol since Cycling City started in 2008.
The three year Cycling City project has resulted in a doubling of cycle training from previous levels. Cycling training is now offered in over 95 per cent of schools in South Gloucestershire and school holiday cycle training courses are run throughout the year.
South Gloucestershire Council was one of the first councils in the country to offer national standard Bikeability cycle training. The training covers skills essential for cycling on roads and children are instructed on how to ride their bikes to the government approved National Standard for Cycle Training.
Cllr Brian Allinson, executive member for planning, transportation and strategic environment, said: “It is fantastic that the cycle trainers in South Gloucestershire and Bristol have been able to deliver cycle training to over 10,000 children to help them to enjoy the benefits of cycling safely. Cycle training is part of a wider programme to encourage children to cycle to school including new cycle routes, improved cycle parking at schools and activities and events.”
Longwell Green Primary head teacher Don Sibley said: “When I became headteacher I had the aspiration of developing a cycling culture in school as part of our values. I am delighted that so many children have taken Bikeability cycle training and there is now a real excitement about cycling in school.”
In June 2008 South Gloucestershire Council, jointly with Bristol City Council, were chosen as Britain’s first Cycling City. Government funding totalling £11.4 million has been awarded to the area to transform cycling infrastructure and to pioneer innovative ways of making cycling a real transport option for more residents.
To find out more or to book a session online visit www.betterbybike.info/cycle-training or phone 01454 868449.
Source: South Gloucestershire Council
