Research to explore perceptions and experiences of Bikeability training amongst parents and children

Launched in 2007, Bikeability is the Government’s cycle training programme, designed to give people the skills and confidence to ride on today’s roads.

This report presents findings from a survey conducted on behalf of Cycling England and the Department for Transport to establish attitudes towards cycling, current cycling behaviour and awareness of, participation in and experience of Bikeability. The Bikeability programme is available to people of all ages. This research, however, focuses on the experience of children in school Years 5 and 6, garnering feedback from children and their parents.

Main conclusions
Overall, feedback from parents and children is very positive indeed, both in terms of cycling in general and the attraction and impact of the Bikeability training scheme.

Cycling clearly has a broad appeal, particularly among children. This appeal is exemplified by the fact that nearly all children interviewed can cycle (97%) and most do so on a regular basis: four in five (82%) say that they usually ride their bike at least once a week. Children see cycling as exciting, whereas their parents tend to place greater emphasis on the health benefits cycling can confer.