Council offers free cycling training to promote active travel choices

Wednesday, 5 August 2020 12:58

Cheshire East Council is offering free training to children, who are looking to increase their confidence cycling on roads.

The sessions – that will run for a fortnight at both the Cumberland Arena in Crewe and Macclesfield Leisure Centre on Priory Lane – start on Monday 17 August. Children will have the option of taking morning or afternoon sessions.

The courses are aimed at children aged 11-16, who can ride a bike but need support to feel more comfortable on the roads. The training sessions will begin in traffic-free environments to ensure participants have the basic skills to be safely riding on the roads such as signalling and looking over their shoulder.

Sessions will then progress to a light-traffic setting and introduce various elements such as road position, turning in and out of junctions and overtaking parked cars safely.

Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council cabinet member with responsibility for leisure, said: “It is vital that we give young people opportunities to get out and be active in the school summer holidays. Naturally, this is even more relevant this year when we are still a little limited in what we can do and when we can do it. These lessons will be a real boost to a lot of young people and their families.”

Councillor Suzie Akers Smith, Cheshire East Council’s walking and cycling champion, said: “I am thrilled that we are able to offer these courses to children this summer. The training presents a great opportunity for children to get the skills they need to become confident cyclists, and by providing the classes free of charge, we know that anyone will be able to get involved.”

The training will complement a series of cycle-friendly infrastructure schemes that the council is introducing to improve facilities for cyclists across the borough.

Morning sessions will run from 9.30am-12.30pm, while the afternoon sessions will run from 1-4pm on Monday to Friday. The only requirement for children taking part is that they bring their own bike - which they must be able to ride - and a helmet.

Booking is essential for all sessions as places are limited. For more information and a full breakdown of session dates and times, please visit the cycle confidence page on the Everybody website.