An explosion of cycle instructors.
An organized effort can assist riders of all ages.
The future of cycling lies with instruction.
Bikeability, the official government cycling proficiency scheme, could be set to really take off, a year and a half after its official launch.
The so-called national scheme has so far been tentatively rolled out – see BikeRadar.com's findings in this article – but Ruth Kelly's recent announcement of £110 million extra cycling investment (of a total of £140 million) has the stated aim of providing cycle training for half a million children by 2012 and holds the potential to create an army of cycle instructors.
Bikeability, billed as the 'cycling proficiency test for the 21st century', began as a trial project in 2006, a joint effort from the Cyclists Touring Club and Cycling England. It is based around National Training Standards of three levels – basic control, getting out on quiet roads and full-on riding in all types of road conditions.
There have been undoubted success stories.
Colin Langdon was instrumental in the formation of the company and formerly had experience with the CTC's Cyclists' Defence Fund.
They are actively looking for people interested in becoming accredited trainers. BikeRadar.com's detailed trawl through the Bikeability website revealed Merseyside as a real training hotspot, with all local councils in the area able to offer full Bikeability training from Cycling Solutions.
Lone cyclists can get accreditation as Bikeability instructors too though. Wendy Creed established Road Safety and Cycle Training in the Newquay area of Cornwall and has been involved in the Bikeability scheme from its formative stages. Her unbridled enthusiasm comes over when talking to BikeRadar.com.
Our analysis of the Bikeability website showed almost half of the local highway authority areas detailed were still not accredited.
The £140 million should more than help fill these gaps. CTC's Senior Cycle Training Officer, Greg Woodford, confirmed this toBikeradar.com.
There are still a few training bursaries available for those wishing to become accredited instructors and more bursary funding should be available in the 2008-2009 school year. See the CTC website for more detail.