What became of Cycling Proficiency?

[growingvegetables]

Go book one, see for yourself.

A revealing, if less than useful, comment.

There are more than enough reported cases of police officers who have not understood Bikeability; perhaps you are another . A bit dated, http://cycletraining.co.uk/library/website/resources/lib0000000151.pdf - but has anything changed?

 

[Hyslop]

Found mine a few months ago,along with my Cycling Proficiency pennant!All together in a buff envelope,courtesy of my mother I assume!Coming from a cycling family,she may have been ashamed of me,perhaps I had become one of the "Janet& John" children(unlikely I think)and an embarrassment to the family.Mind you,at 94,given the risks shes taken and experienced,its as well one of us is sensible.

 

[Drago]

Don't be a Dilbert Mr Vegetables - I'm trained to teach it at all levels! Fortunately, I went and got my MIAS instructors ticket short afterwards so can teach a more useful, realistic syllabus written with input from professional cyclists and specialists the World over, and not by some pen pusher at DfT who probably thinks a a 29er is an ice cream


Go book one for yourself - it might be you who learns something.

 

[growingvegetables]

Don't be a Dilbert Mr Vegetables - I'm trained to teach it at all levels! Fortunately, I went and got my MIAS instructors ticket short afterwards so can teach a more useful, realistic syllabus written with input from professional cyclists and specialists the World over, and not by some pen pusher at DfT who probably thinks a a 29er is an ice cream


Go book one for yourself - it might be you who learns something.

Fair enough - so perhaps you have something more constructive to conrtibute about Bikeability? Something less ..... patronising, perhaps?

 

[Profpointy]

i did it but I do seem to remember something about 18" from the kerb. If I remember rightly, which may be questionable, then it's dangerous nonsense

 

[sleaver]

I can remember doing mine years ago and watching as someone crashed into a car breaking its number plate on the road test. I think he couldn't stop in time while doing the hand signal.

Yeah, he didn't pass.

 

[Drago]

Fair enough - so perhaps you have something more constructive to conrtibute about Bikeability? Something less ..... patronising, perhaps?

No, not really.

 

[Padraig]

I can remember doing mine years ago and watching as someone crashed into a car breaking its number plate on the road test. I think he couldn't stop in time while doing the hand signal.

Yeah, he didn't pass.

I must relate something which amused me no end at the time. I'd gone up for my motor bike driving test. It was 1981, and the drill was that you went around a course on your own, while the examiner watched you from various strategic places. Then at some point he'd leap out from behind a parked car or something and flourish his clipboard, and you had to do an emergency stop. After my test, which I'm glad to say I passed, I was chatting to the examiner, and he told me about one of his colleagues. It seems this chap had been testing someone on a Honda CB250 Super Dream. You could ride up to 250 cc on L-plates in those days. Anyway, the time came for the examiner to do the emergency stop. Along came the Super Dream, and out with him waving his clipboard. Only thing was, it was a different bike, although the same make, model and colour.

 

[Hyslop]

I must relate something which amused me no end at the time. I'd gone up for my motor bike driving test. It was 1981, and the drill was that you went around a course on your own, while the examiner watched you from various strategic places. Then at some point he'd leap out from behind a parked car or something and flourish his clipboard, and you had to do an emergency stop. After my test, which I'm glad to say I passed, I was chatting to the examiner, and he told me about one of his colleagues. It seems this chap had been testing someone on a Honda CB250 Super Dream. You could ride up to 250 cc on L-plates in those days. Anyway, the time came for the examiner to do the emergency stop. Along came the Super Dream, and out with him waving his clipboard. Only thing was, it was a different bike, although the same make, model and colour.

I can well believe it,belting along a long straight road in Carlisle,on a Super Dream in days of yore,a strange man jumped about ahead of me waving his arms.Turned out he was waiting for his learner,but,given the amount of notice he gave,he cant have been too confident of living to tell the tale!That said on my first urban driving lesson,a mad woman pushed a pram out into my way,appearing from between two parked cars.I braked in time,but there was a funny smell in the car for the rest of the lesson.

 

[littlee]

Knew I had these somewhere - awarded for riding round the junior school playground in the early 70s

 

[Dave Davenport]

and not by some pen pusher at DfT.

Bikeability is largely based on Cyclecraft (John Franklin), the latest instructors training manual was written by Cycle Training UK (a not for profit co-op). Personally I think it's a pretty good scheme and that the government funded level 1 & 2 stuff done with primary school kids is very worthwhile.

 

[Andy_R]

Don't be a Dilbert Mr Vegetables - I'm trained to teach it at all levels! Fortunately, I went and got my MIAS instructors ticket short afterwards so can teach a more useful, realistic syllabus written with input from professional cyclists and specialists the World over, and not by some pen pusher at DfT who probably thinks a a 29er is an ice cream


Go book one for yourself - it might be you who learns something.

I take it you've never met Dave Dansky? Who along with others NOT employed by the DfT drafted the National Standard. Who probably has umpteen gazillion years more experience of cycle commuting/training than you ever claim to have. I'm sure you're also aware that "Bikeability" is a brand name, not an actual curriculum. MIAS is a great ticket to have, but not designed for the roads.....

 

[Andy_R]

Bikeability is largely based on Cyclecraft (John Franklin), the latest instructors training manual was written by Cycle Training UK (a not for profit co-op). Personally I think it's a pretty good scheme and that the government funded level 1 & 2 stuff done with primary school kids is very worthwhile.

The latest instructor training manual IS NOT written by Cycle Training UK. Your Instructor Training Manual might be. Mine was written by a good friend of mine, and myself. We are National Standard Instructor Trainers who worked bloody hard to get ITO status whilst working for the Road Safety team of our local council and we oversee/mentor/train instructors in the delivery of cycle training of 3 local authorities

 

[Andy_R]

i did it but I do seem to remember something about 18" from the kerb. If I remember rightly, which may be questionable, then it's dangerous nonsense

A good NS Instructor would have taught you to ride in the edge of the traffic, not 18" from the kerb -- this is why all Bikeability schemes are being audited, and those that fail will cease to exist.

 

[Profpointy]

A good NS Instructor would have taught you to ride in the edge of the traffic, not 18" from the kerb -- this is why all Bikeability schemes are being audited, and those that fail will cease to exist.

It was well over 40 years ago !