Dr. Brian Iddon welcomes funding for 1,000 more children to get cycle training in Bolton

Transport Minister Rosie Winterton has announced that Bolton will receive £40,000 to provide cycle training to 1,000 local school children by March 2009.

This funding is part of the £3million announced today by the Government as one part of a national package which will give up to half a million ten to eleven year olds across the country cycle training by 2012.

Cycling has a major role to play in the Government's drive to promote sustainable travel - 41% of all trips are less than two miles, a distance easily cycled in less than 15 minutes. Bikeability training gives children and parents the skills and confidence to cycle safely on today's busy roads, enabling them to undertake short journeys, for example cycling to school. 

Transport Minister Rosie Winterton MP said:

“Encouraging cycling also encourages healthier lifestyles. Considering obesity now affects around one quarter of adults and 1 in 10 children, encouraging people to take exercise has never been more important. At the same time congestion is getting worse. If parents can be satisfied their children can cycle safely they are more likely to let them use their bikes.

Bolton South East MP Dr Brian Iddon welcomed the announcement and said

“The health of our children is a priority for all of us. Today’s announcement of £40,000 for more bikeability training places is good news. It will help encourage more of our children to get regular exercise. And by getting children to cycle more, we may encourage more parents to get back on their bicycles.”

The funding will support the new National Cycle Training Standard being promoted in England by Cycling England as Bikeability - the new cycling proficiency for the 21st century.

1. The Bikeability scheme is a new training standard designed to provide children with the on-road skills they need to handle modern traffic conditions. It was launched in March 2007. See www.bikeability.org.uk

2. Bikeability has been designed and developed by leading experts in the road safety and cycling fields including RoSPA, Local Authority Road Safety Officers (LARSOA) and the CTC. It is based on similar principles to lessons for motorcycles, allowing cyclists to assess risks and obstacles faced on the road

3. It involves a much higher standard of cycle training, including an on-road element and is designed to give confidence and skills to deal with today's road conditions. Bikeability teaches more than how to control a bike, helping people assess the risks and obstacles they are likely to face when cycling.

4. The Department is providing 68 local highway authorities with cycle training grants in 2008/09.  All eligible grant bids have been met in full.  The funding will pay for cycle training for nearly 80,000 new places above those already being funded by local authorities.  Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council will receive £40,000

5. Grants were available for a maximum of £40 per pupil. Where the cost of training exceeds £40 local authorities top up the funding either with their own funding or with parental contributions.  Cost of training can vary depending on different costs and delivery mechanisms around the country.

6. In addition to funding cycle training through local authorities Cycling England also offers grants direct to schools through the Youth Sport Trust School Sports Partnerships.  Cycling England also fund bursaries for new cycle trainers and provide funding for Bike It officers who work in schools to promote cycling.