Nurseries ban bike stabilisers in the latest fitness push

CHILDREN have been banned from cycling with stabilisers in a campaign to curb obesity.

The plan is being rolled out across Dundee nurseries as part of the Play on Pedals fitness campaign.

Children attending council-run services in the city have to use their feet on trainer ‘balance bikes’ as they learn how to ride.

Organisers say it helps infants gain confidence as they practise balance and keeps them fit.

The council said the stabilisers had been dropped from all its nurseries. Dundee is understood to be the first local authority to introduce the rule.

Audrey White, of the council’s Children and Family Service,

‘Helps children gain confidence’

said: ‘Children learn to use a bike without any stabilisers, without any pedals and when they feel confident, they can move on to standard bikes.’

Using core muscles was ‘a key fundamental movement’, which stabilisers do not allow.

The aids, once a rite of passage, have slowly gone out of favour, as children have to relearn balance when the supports are taken off.

Nearly one in three Primary One pupils are overweight or obese.

Cycling Scotland’s development officer Matt Wilberton last night welcomed the ban.

He said: ‘Learning without stabilisers develops core balance faster for young children, making riding a bike easier and giving them skills and confidence for later life.

‘Transport Scotland are funding the roll-out to ultimately give every child in nursery the chance to learn to ride a bike.’