FEATURE
“The second big issue is parents’ fears. They’re worried that traffic volumes are too high, it’s too dangerous, and there isn’t enough safe infrastructure. But we’ve got to get positive messages out that actually, Bikeability keeps kids safe. “The third big issue is instructor capacity. Although we’re about on track and on target with the instructor numbers, we do struggle to recruit. We have a funded bursary, so we pay for the training of instructors. We bought that in 2023, so we’ve removed that barrier. “And the fourth big issue that stops every child from
cycling is access to cycles. And that’s why we’re focused in our new strategy on getting more well-maintained cycles out there into the hands of children so that they can have that ongoing opportunity to cycle.” From an industry perspective, how can we collectively
PHOTO: ©BIKEABILITY TRUST
have access to a cycle. But it breaks my heart that I’ve got to take that bike back.” To tackle the lack of accessibility of cycles for children,
Bikeability has identified a few main areas that stop children from getting on bikes. “Firstly, Bikeability is not on the curriculum. So if a school says, no, they’re allowed to do so, which often comes down to individual head teacher discretion. We’re in about 80% of primary schools, but like swimming is on the curriculum, cycling should be, too.
22 | May 2025
help to increase access to cycles for more children? Firstly, we can lobby the government to remove VAT on kids’ bikes. This will help to remove some barriers to cost for parents. Secondly, Bikeability is launching a public fundraising campaign to buy bikes for children who don’t otherwise have access to one. “What is on my heart, our trustees hearts, and all of the staff at Bikeability is that if you are a child who lives in care or you are in a low income household, that ongoing opportunity to get that love, joy, freedom and independence from cycling can only come if we do more to give cycles to children who otherwise don’t have access to them.
And that’s why we’re launching a public fundraising appeal. It will be a series of partnerships with the cycling industry to make sure that we can get those cycles out into the hands of children and that they’re theirs, not just something we loan for training.” ●
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