Cycle training in schools reaching new heights in Scotland

More than 1,200 schools in Scotland took part in Bikeability Scotland cycle training in the 2023-24 academic year, figures collated by Cycling Scotland and local authorities have revealed.

The national cycle training programme helps to increase road safety awareness in young people, equipping them with the skills and confidence to make everyday trips by bike more safely. Free for pupils, Bikeability Scotland is funded and co-ordinated by Cycling Scotland, the national cycling charity, through grant funding from Transport Scotland.

A record number of local authorities delivered Level 2 on-road cycle training in 100% of primary schools in their area, ranging from cities to rural areas, and the central belt to the Islands, including: Aberdeen, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Western Isles, Orkney, Scottish Borders, Shetland and Stirling.

Seven councils achieved their highest delivery rate of Bikeability Scotland on record, including Stirling (100% of primary schools), Angus (96%), Dumfries (86%), Moray (95%), Perth and Kinross (99%), Renfrewshire (86%) and West Lothian (37%).

Despite a reduction in the overall programme budget, local authorities and Cycling Scotland worked together to maintain record delivery of on-road cycle training at 60% of primary schools, with half of local authorities now delivering on-road cycle training in more than 85% of primary schools in their area.

Abdoulie, a P7 pupil who had been through Level 2 on-road Bikeability Scotland training, said: “It showed me how to bike safer. I used to just go without signalling or doing anything. I didn’t even know what it was until we did it. When I went home, I told my mum, Mum, I learned how to signal. And she was happy, she was proud of me.”

Independent research into Bikeability Scotland, commissioned by Cycling Scotland, has confirmed that cycle training has a positive impact on pupil’s knowledge and hazard awareness, and that frequency of cycling is higher among secondary pupils who had completed Bikeability than those who had not.

David Collins, Bikeability Scotland Manager, said: “It’s brilliant to see the high level of training being done, in the smallest to the largest schools in Scotland - at Edderton Primary in Highland, which has just six pupils, five took part while at Dunbar Primary, 135 pupils from all five P6 classes completed Level 2 training.   

“Learning to cycle and road safety awareness are essential life skills and schools that commit to Bikeability Scotland are helping young people gain these. And the benefits are lifelong – providing greater transport independence and healthier, greener lifestyles.

“The positive impact of Bikeability Scotland on frequency of cycling is also shown to be greatest in schools with a higher proportion of pupils eligible for Free School Meals.

“Together with building a network of safe, dedicated cycle lanes and preventing dangerous driving, Bikeability Scotland training is essential to support children to cycle.”

Councillor John Rebbeck, Perth and Kinross Council’s Convener for Learning and Families, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to achieve our highest ever level of Bikeability Scotland cycle training in our schools. Bikeability is a hugely valuable programme which encourages our young people to use sustainable transport, keep fit and be safe out on our roads.

“This has been a huge effort by Bikeability Scotland Coordinator for Perth and Kinross Bill Butterworth and the team, to engage with schools and take delivery from a low level five years ago to where we are now. I look forward to continuing our partnership work with Cycling Scotland to provide Bikeability Scotland training for many more pupils in our schools.”

More information, including which schools are currently offering the training, along with more guidance and support for schools, parents, instructors and local authorities, can be found on the Bikeability Scotland website.