Bikeability is a national cycle training scheme. It’s like cycling proficiency, but better. It’s about gaining practical skills and understanding how to cycle on today’s roads.

Bikeability Learn to Ride is for those children who are unable to ride independently.

During this one hour course your child will receive an introduction to riding a bike with pedals, which will include:

• getting on and off the cycle holding their brakes
• how to set their pedal correctly with their preferred starting foot
• how to start by pushing down on their pedal hard enough to gain momentum, place their other foot on the other pedal and keep pedalling
• travelling in a straight line
• stopping by using both brakes then putting a foot down
• maintaining balance by turning their handlebar in the direction of intended movement
• changing direction turning left and right in gentle arcs with tighter turns as they gain control

As this is just an introduction you will need to continue practicing with your child after the course. Your instructor will be able to advise what your child needs to practice and when they will be ready for our Playground Bike Skills (Level 1) course.

Booking

Most of our Bikeability courses are held in schools and these courses are offered for free but we do also hold some limited holiday courses at £5 per child (to ensure attendance of the course).

We are currently holding some limited Learn to Ride holiday courses so please use our booking system to book a place.

Places are limited so if there is no current availability, please email us at bikeability@bcpcouncil.gov.uk to request a place on the waiting list as we will be putting on more holiday courses when we have more instructor availability.

If you have booked a place on a holiday course, and you cancel more than 48 hours before the start of the course, you can either book onto another alternative course or if preferred, you will receive a refund.

If your child is eligible for free school meals, you will be able to access the course free of charge. Please email bikeability@bcpcouncil.gov.uk to provide proof of this eligibility and a member of the team will be in contact to discuss how we can make this provision. Please state the date, time and location of the course you would like to book together with the name of your child so that this can be arranged. You will first need to register on our booking system and add the details of your child.

We also offer all primary and junior schools the opportunity of running free Learn to Ride and Level 1 only courses when they book our Level 2 Residential Road Cycling Training, so we can ensure that pupils are ready to take their Level 2. Please therefore ask at your child’s school if they are holding any Bikeability courses.

Instructors

Our instructors are all fully qualified to the National Standard, DBS checked and trained in first aid. They also receive regular safeguarding training.

Contact us

If you have a query regarding our courses, please call the Bikeability Team on 01202 127 867/ 01202 123 982 or email the Bikeability team at bikeability@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.

There may be a delay in the response as we are a very small busy team and we are often out at events or meetings.

Sometimes emails may get caught in the junk or spam folder, so please check these if you’re expecting an email from us.