Cycle safety should be taught as part of lessons, say parents
A PUSH to improve cycling safety for children has found that more than half of parents want it taught as part of lessons.
A survey commissioned by retail chain Halfords shows that 56 per cent of parents want cycling safety added to help children tackle Britain’s roads.
It also found that a third think there should be a special cycling highway code for youngsters.
Research found that one in eight families with under-12s have at least one member who does not know how to ride a bike.
Partnership
Halfords and the Bikeability Trust, the national charity for cycling training, have launched a partnership to help 25,000 more children of primary school age in England access safe cycling programmes.
Halfords will provide free bike safety checks for every child taking part in the Bikeability programme, as well as for their parents, teachers and trainers.
The firm’s chief executive Graham Stapleton said: “By helping more children cycle more safely and more often, families will be inspired to get out on their bikes.”
The cycling training programme is based on the Government’s National Standard for cycle and instructor training.
It helps beginners to start learning in traffic-free environments before eventually tackling multi-lane junctions.
Cycling minister Jesse Norman said: “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.
“This investment in the future generation of cyclists, will allow us to reach and train more children than ever before.”
AA president Edmund King said: “The AA has also called for road safety to be part of the roads and complex national curriculum and for Bikeability training to be offered in all schools. This initiative is a positive step.
“A few years ago, we distributed five 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.
“Many drivers are cyclists and many younger cyclists become drivers.
“Hence we need to promote safe cycling and more harmony on our roads.”