Bikeability Training

[ChrisKH]

Just wanted to share a few photos and facts about level 2 Bikeability training available in my area together with contact details of the non-profit making company who can arrange it. Basically I was getting sick of trying to find training for KH junior so approached several people who had held training sessions in the past. Upshot of it was if I could get a number of people interested (six participants plus one adult accompanying) then for a nominal fee (£5.00 per child) they can arrange training and get this funded from local government. I produced a number of flyers asking for interested people and provisionally arranged two Saturday sessions of three hours each. It was pretty hard going on the kids but worth it in the end:-

Snake ready to go on the road.

Stopping for LH turn training.

BenKH executing LH turn, checking for traffic.

Ditto Helena.

RH Turn across traffic - training before the event.

Jake and Harry execute textbook stops before turning across traffic.

Helena doesn't. Instructor corrects problem at the time and makes her do it again.

Final test - Ben KH RH turn across traffic on busy road. All the kids had to pass this to get their Bikeability level 2 badge and certificate. Most succeeded.


For those less sure, the instructors were there for hands-on training:-

I have to say how professional the instructors were and how well kitted out and prepared they were (walkie talkies, professional manner, showing where the kids went wrong, etc) and found out shortly afterwards that both are forces or ex-forces and have been doing this for years. It showed. I cannot recommend them more highly - see http://www.cycletrainingeast.org.uk/

The finished product, looking a bit too serious like his Dad :-

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

..Great stuff!

I think these courses should be part of a childs school curriculum...we need to introduce a cycling is normal culture in this country like in Holland etc and th eschools is where it should start. bet it was fun as well.

 

[ChrisKH]

..Great stuff!

I think these courses should be part of a childs school curriculum...we need to introduce a cycling is normal culture in this country like in Holland etc and th eschools is where it should start. bet it was fun as well.

Absolutely BTFB. Talking to the instructors, he says the funding is there, it's just that schools are having trouble inserting this into the curriculum. I intend to lobby my son's school as I feel this would be very useful for all kids, even if it just made them more road aware. And yes it was fun. Unfortunately they made out my name on the certificate instead on Ben's which means I got it by default.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

...I am sure they would issue a new certificate in Bens name once they realise you can't ride a bike..their mistake

Lot's of kids are scared to ride bikes..mine included. They just see the dangers, the moron drivers and above all see the bike as unusual and therefore not cool...such a shame. I would like to see my sons skool adopt the course for the kids...and not just the young 'uns either but the teenagers as well. There is time after skool/lunchbreaks etc..it's just about pushing it through to the top of the teachers busy agenda..I suspect they'd be up for it if it was made easy and hassle free for them.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I'm sure the kids would rather be out on a bike learning what they can to get more freedom than running round a field in the pishing rain... why can't they just put it instead of a PE 'lesson' once a month??? Not rocket science!

 

[tdr1nka]

Great stuff, and well done ChrisKH! Good to have a real cycling 'feel good' story for a change.

Fingers crossed, by the end of the year, I will have my Instructors accreditation and a) I'll finally get back into employment and doing a job thats both practical and empowering.

 

[tdr1nka]

...I am sure they would issue a new certificate in Bens name once they realise you can't ride a bike..their mistake

Lot's of kids are scared to ride bikes..mine included. They just see the dangers, the moron drivers and above all see the bike as unusual and therefore not cool...such a shame. I would like to see my sons skool adopt the course for the kids...and not just the young 'uns either but the teenagers as well. There is time after skool/lunchbreaks etc..it's just about pushing it through to the top of the teachers busy agenda..I suspect they'd be up for it if it was made easy and hassle free for them.

You might want to contact your council and see what their policy is on cycle training, I'd also suggest it to the school.

It is worth noting that the Level 2 course(as mentioned OT)is aimed at pupils starting at year 6, Level 1 is for the complete beginner.

 

[tdr1nka]

Unfortunately they made out my name on the certificate instead on Ben's which means I got it by default.

Does this mean you haven't really passed Level 2 then?

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

so how do you get to be an instructor then?

 

[tdr1nka]

To become an accredited instructor you have to undertake a recognised training course, mine is with CTUK in Sarf London, they were recommended to me by Mickle and happen to be only 10mins from my house.

I took a two hour lesson myself to a) see what an instructor made of my riding and to get an idea of what an instructor does, it was well worth doing.

If you have read Cyclecraft you will know most of what an instructor teaches and needs to know, the rest of the training is learning how to bring this knowledge to any cyclist either in a group or in a one on one setting.

The course I am taking is 4 workings days of being trained, I will have two working sessions where I will be monitored to see if I am up to standard, hopefully then I will become an accredited instructor!

I'll PM you some more details

 

[summerdays]

It is worth noting that the Level 2 course(as mentioned OT)is aimed at pupils starting at year 6, Level 1 is for the complete beginner.

Level 1 is aimed at year 3 and year 4 children who can cycle - off road
Level 2 is aimed at year 5 and year 6 - on road
Level 3 secondary school age

I'm sure I'd read some ages associated with the diffrerent levels too but I can't find them on the Bikeability website.

 

[ChrisKH]

I had no idea about the age range for levels 1-3. Most of the kids on the course were 8-9 years of age (end of year 4 at school) . In retrospect they would have benefited being older when they did this, but I'm still glad I encouraged them to do it. Wouldn't hurt for them to do it again in a couple of years in year 6.

Tdrinka if you could also pm me details of the course you are doing it would be appreciated. I am considering further training. Thanks.

 

[ChrisKH]

Does this mean you haven't really passed Level 2 then?

Not formally, but I was in the trainers faces for two days because I wanted to know everything they did. Truth be known I wanted to be more involved than I was (certainly had more interest than some of the kids!), went through most of their exercises after they had done them, so got the badge and certificate at the end. I would have passed I think had I taken it formally (pretty sad if I wouldn't have, given the amount I cycle on the roads anyway). It was certainly a good refresher and I would recommend tagging along to any parent to refresh your skills. The instructor said the use Cyclecraft as their bible, so that's the next step for me.

 

[guitarpete247]

I have been looking for courses for instructors in the East Midlands, Leicester (NW Leicestershire) area. Nearest I can find is in Wolverhampton. Or Sheffield if I go and stop at my dad's, in Doncaster, for a few days.
Does anyone know of a course closer to me. I know Leicestershire County Council run both adult and school Bikeability courses.

 

[mr Mag00]

i am an instructor too!
its great but getting to parents fund it themselves away from school is really hard and through the schools has been poor show in my area Poole and Bournemouth are very good at schoolchildren through