Cycle Safety Training

Cyclist training for young people is a very important way of increasing their safety and prepares them for taking to the roads.

Kent County Council offers safety cycle training to year six pupils at primary schools throughout Kent. It lasts one day and is based on continuous assessment. There is no final test, the youngsters all receive a certificate and each one of them is told what he or she needs to think about when cycling.

To take part in the training, which costs £10, children must bring their own roadworthy bike and must already be able to ride it. They must be in year six and at least 10 years old.

Training takes place on the road and the cyclists will be riding in traffic under controlled conditions. This makes it particularly important that their bikes are roadworthy; if they are not, they can not be used.

Trainees need to go on the road as the whole purpose of the training is to help them be safer in this situation, but there are lots of safety measures in place during the training:

• All trainees and instructors wear yellow waistcoats
• Temporary road signs are used where appropriate
• All training sites are risk assessed by Road Safety staff

Students also complete a workbook which is handed out about a week before the training starts and should be completed before the day of the course - ideally with the support of parents.

To complete the course, cyclists must complete the workbook and:

• be able to demonstrate that they can check their bike's brakes and tyres to ensure it is roadworthy
• display balance whilst looking behind and Signalling
• demonstrate that they can start safely from the kerb
• demonstrate that they can stop quickly using both brakes
• be able to explain correctly who has priority at junctions
• demonstrate confidence and awareness when turning left and right and when overtaking parked vehicles

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