One pedal at a time
Take it slow and make sure your child has mastered each skill before moving on to the next. Give them plenty of time to practice by taking them outside to develop their balance skills. Over time, stand back and let them build their confidence.
Cycle Training
Bikeability will teach your children basic bike handling skills and how to cycle safely on the road. Research shows that 64% of children felt a lot more confident when cycling following a Level 2 Bikeability course. Check to see if your child can access free Bikeability sessions at school or book onto a private course. For more information, watch our Introduction to Bikeability video.
Let go of the saddle
At this stage your child is likely to have gained confidence in their cycling ability and will want to cycle to school, to the shops or to visit friends. The difficult part is for you, the parent, to encourage them to do this. Cycling increases a child’s independence, improves their health and saves everyone (usually you) money.
Family time
One of the best ways to improve a child’s cycling confidence is through practice and having fun. They don’t need to do it alone. This summer, why not take the whole family out for a picnic, cycling there and back? You don’t need to go far and it’s your choice what route you take. Remember though, the best way to improve skills and confidence is to practice what you’ve been taught. So if you can incorporate an on-road section, then give it a go.
Be seen, be safe
An old tag line but still as relevant today. The meaning however has altered slightly. It’s not just about wearing high-visibility clothing or having reflectors on your bike, it’s also about cycling correctly. If your child has completed their Bikeability award they will tell you themselves about the primary and secondary road positions.
Bikeability
Lincolnshire County Council receives funding from the Department for Transport to deliver Bikeability to certain year groups in our local schools. This training is delivered by LCC’s partner Outspoken Training.
Bikeability is an enjoyable training course for all ages to develop cycling skills and confidence.
Bikeability is delivered across three levels:
- Off-road training focusing on basic bike handling and skills
- On-road training on local suburban and residential streets
- On-road training on more complicated roads addressing more complicated riding skills
In addition to Bikeability levels 1, 2, & 3 a range of Bikeability Plus modules are also offered including:
- Bikeability Balance
- Bikeability Learn To Ride
Should you wish to make a booking for your school you should contact team@outspokentraining.co.uk or 01223 473820. You can also visit Outspoken's website.
Further details on Bikeability, including alternative private training providers, can be found on the Bikeability website. Alternatively you can contact Bikeability@lincolnshire.gov.uk
