New figures from the Bikeability Trust show over 54,814 children in London had the opportunity to get pedalling with Bikeability cycle training between April 2023 and March 2024, thanks to funding from Transport for London. Across England 560,471 pupils booked on to Bikeability training between April 2023 and March 2024.
The top performing London Boroughs in 2023–24 were Lambeth, Southwark and Richmond-Upon-Thames. London also delivered a further 14,365 cycle training courses for adults, many of whom are new cyclists looking to start cycling in the capital for the first time.
Cycle training is a vital step in helping the Mayor achieve the active travel targets for the capital. It’s impact is wide reaching in helping our nation through:
- A public health intervention; addressing childhood physical inactivity, obesity and the mental health crisis
- Equipping children with vital life skills; Pupils not only learn to cycle, they gain independence, social skills and a sense of wellbeing.
- Increasing road safety; after Bikeability, children are better at responding to risk and report increased confidence.
Miranda Leedham, TfL’s Head of Customer Marketing and Behaviour Change, said: “High-quality training plays a vital role in enabling even more Londoners of all ages to access the many benefits of cycling. We’re thrilled that so many young Londoners have been able to benefit from cycle training with Bikeability, equipping them with vital life skills and more confidence when travelling. We’ll continue to work with our partners to ensure that we can inspire even more young Londoners to travel healthily and sustainably.”
Bikeability Trust Chief Executive Emily Cherry said: “I’m so proud of the children in London who are now equipped with the skills and confidence to thrive on a cycle. We know that there are so many physical and mental health benefits of cycling, and through Bikeability training and London’s commitment to build a world class cycling network, these children will be able to make more sustainable transport choices for the rest of their lives. Our latest impact report shows just what has been achieved, through the hard work and commitment of everyone involved.”
Featured Photo by Jakub Čihák on Unsplash.