Bikeability boosted for the next 4 years

Last Thursday (17 Dec), the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that cycle training, known as Bikeability, would receive a boost over the next 4 years with funding of £50m. 

This welcome announcement was initially made during the course of the Government’s statement regarding changes to EU laws which will require all new lorries to be fitted with improved mirrors. It was then further mentioned in the Road Safety Statement issued on 21 December. 

Against the background of the 37% cuts to the DfT’s overall revenue budget, as announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, the funding allocated for Bikeability represents a 7% increase compared to the previous 5-year budget of £58.5m. This increase has been warmly welcomed by CTC, which has seen funding for cycling progressively squeezed over the last year. 

Commenting on the funding announcement, Paul Tuohy, CTC Chief Executive, said: “CTC is delighted to see £50m of funding secured for Bikeability training for the next 4 years, ensuring that momentum is not lost with over 1.8million young people being trained so far. In a challenging funding climate, this commitment from the Department for Transport is an important recognition that cycle training is a critical factor in developing a Cycling Revolution in the UK.

Until we have Space for Cycling, providing cycle training is one of the most important ways in which schools can directly encourage young people to cycle and help realise the many benefits of increased local cycle use."
Paul Tuohy, CTC Chief Executive

“Building the confidence, skills and independence of children and young people through Bikeability training will deliver long-term benefits for society. This ties in perfectly with the five desired outcomes of the Government’s new ‘Sporting Future’ strategy – namely physical health, mental health, individual development, social and community development, and economic development.

“Until we have Space for Cycling, providing cycle training is one of the most important ways in which schools can directly encourage young people to cycle and help realise the many benefits of increased local cycle use.

“It is important that we work with training providers, schools and the Department for Transport to further raise the profile of Bikeability training and ensure that every young person has the opportunity to benefit from the training.”

CTC has long supported cycle training for all ages as a means to mitigate the risks of the current road environment. However, CTC also believes, as demonstrated through its Space for Cycling campaign, that high quality cycling infrastructure should be local authorities' and central Government’s ultimate goal. It is only through the right conditions that people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities will be able to cycle safely, thereby generating the economic, health and environmental benefits to the advantage of everyone.