Annual report & accounts 2024-25

  1. Introduction
  2. Highlights
  3. Education & training
    1. Bikeability Scotland
    2. Early years cycle skills
    3. Adult Cycle Training
    4. Other national standard and leadership courses
    5. Road User Awareness Training
  4. Monitoring cycling, road safety and connecting people
  5. Access to bikes, cycle parking & storage
  6. Transport Planning & Engineering
  7. Organisation

Education and training

Early years cycle skills  - Play on Pedals

Play on Pedals is a training programme that supports and develops the cycling skills of nursery-aged children. Through a series of fun and imaginative activities, children develop their balance and control skills, through balance and pedal bikes.

Aimed at pre-school children, Play on Pedals has strong links to the Curriculum for Excellence covering different areas within early level such as Health and Wellbeing, Literacy, Maths, Technology and Science.

In 2024-25, over 10,000 children took part in Play on Pedals – starting, for many, the beginning of their cycling journey. 

Cycling Scotland trained 192 early years practitioners as Play on Pedals Instructors, and distributed over £50,000 to 11 local authorities to support learn to ride activities in the nursery setting.

Play on Pedals helps break down some of the barriers in children learning to cycle - especially important in areas of health inequalities and multiple deprivation

Along with Cycling UK and Play Scotland, Cycling Scotland is an active member of the Play Together on Pedals Partnership. Pilot activity took place in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire to review learn to ride activity in the P1 to P3 setting with positive results, resulting in a new learn-to-ride instructor course.

Case study

St Cadoc's Nursery, East Renfrewshire

With support from Cycling Scotland and East Renfrewshire Council, St Cadoc’s Nursery has integrated Play on Pedals into its everyday nursery activities. 

The children have developed a wide range of skills throughout their cycling journey: not only have they improved their physical coordination, balance, and gross motor skills, but they have also gained a great sense of independence and self-confidence. Instructors have been struck by the children’s perseverance, determination, and willingness to try something new.  The Play on Pedals games have also supported the children’s social skills. They encouraged one another and celebrated each other’s progress, fostering a lovely sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

The children encouraged one another and celebrated each other’s progress, fostering a lovely sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

St Cadoc's Nursery East Renfrewshire Council

Before Play on Pedals was introduced, only two children were able to cycle independently. By the end, over 20 children had gained the confidence and skills to ride a bike, reflecting the impact of Play on Pedals in the nursery setting.