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Why schools love Bikeability Scotland
Last year a record 60,000 children took part in Bikeability Scotland cycle training, more than the population of Livingston and more than the capacity of Tynecastle and Easter Road combined. Cycling Scotland spoke to pupils at Ferryhill Primary in Drylaw, Edinburgh to find out more.
The first thing that strikes you about Ferryhill is location. Sitting at the heart of a community. All is quiet. That is, until you walk inside. There is so much going on. How does cycle training fit in? The answers emerge when talking to P7s Abdoulie, Kennedi, Mason, and Maeci.
“I like to cycle when I'm going somewhere, like to my auntie's house.” Abdoulie already rode regularly, but it was the training that helped him understand how to do it more safely, “It showed me how to bike safer. I used to just go without signalling or doing anything.”
Maeci found the progression from playground to road a challenge, “When we went onto the road for the first time it was quite nerve- wracking."
As Mason explains, being on the road helped him understand the skills he had learnt in the playground, “I was not that confident because I felt like I wasn't that good at riding my bike, but then when I went onto the road I thought to myself that I could do it.”
Abdoulie smiles as he remembers telling his mum, “When I went home, I told my mum - Mum, I learned how to signal. And she was happy. She was proud of me."
The last word goes to Kennedi who is clearly inspired by the possibilities, “When I'm older I could think about cycling to my high school which isn't too far. If I could get to Broughton, I feel like I can go anywhere.”
Bikeability Scotland is the national cycle training programme for school children. It’s completely free, delivered by trained instructors, and helps children build the skills and confidence they need to cycle on roads. For more information and to find out if your school offers Bikeability Scotland training visit bikeability.scot