More than £1million to get kids on their bikes

The North East is to receive over £1m to help more children learn how to ride a bike.

The £1,044,162 funding, part of a £20m pot, is coming through the Bikeability Trust from the Department of Transport and will be used to run cycle training for children and families in the region.

Bikeability has trained more than 3.6 million children since 2007 and the £20m has the potential to deliver half a million training places across the UK.

The Trust is also continuing to offer bursaries for those wanting to join the industry as an instructor, who would then offer cycle training to youngsters.

CEO Emily Cherry said: “We have already trained more than 3.6 million children how to cycle confidently and safely. This record investment will help us to achieve our ambition of offering every child cycle training. Bikeability teaches children an essential life skill that benefits their health and helps the make more sustainable travel choices.

“Getting children cycling when they’re young embeds active habits for life, gives them the independence to travel to school and, most importantly, helps them discover how fun cycling is.”

Speaking at the Bikeability conference, active travel minister Trudy Harrison said: “Cycling helps both our planet and our wellbeing, and learning to cycle is also an important life skill.

“Our ambition is for every child to be able to access Bikeability training, and I’m delighted we’ve been able to invest a record £20m to help make this a reality.”

The investment supports the Government’s plans to decarbonise the transport network.

The aim is for half of all journeys in towns and cities to be walked or cycled by 2030.