This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Young people on the Island will soon be able to access free bicycle training after government funding was secured by the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.
Around £12,000 will be provided per year until 2015 to deliver ‘Bikeability’ courses for young people both in and out of school hours.
Bikeability sessions
‘Bikeability’ is described as the 21st century version of the old cycling proficiency tests.
The courses, each of which last 10 hours, are open to Year 6 pupils at schools which can sign up for Bikeability sessions for free during term time. There will also be training days during the summer holidays which anyone between the ages of 9-16 can attend – again free of charge. These will be advertised nearer the time.
Adult courses can also be arranged should there be sufficient demand.
The aim of the courses are to provide young people to learn safe cycling practices, learn the importance of keeping a bicycle roadworthy, showing how vital it is to wear a correctly fitted cycle helmet and how to be visible to other road users.
Fire service staff to become instructors
The fire service has recently trained five of its staff to become instructors who will deliver the courses, and a further six officers will be trained in April.
The Bikeability scheme is delivered on three levels. Level 1 involves training in the playground or similar off-road area. Level 2 is delivered on-road and level 3 involves a more challenging on-road training session.
At the end of the Bikeability course, participants receive a certificate & badge in recognition of their achievement.
Image: © Bikeability
