29 July 2007
Extract from Appendix F to the Local Transport Plan 'A cycling strategy for Slough', published on the Council website September 2005 -
"6.39 Cycle training schemes for age 10+ school children are being provided this summer at two locations for those children who did not have the opportunity to receive training during the school year. This programme will be expanded over the five years to provide training to a greater percentage of children age 10+."
Can you please let me know how many Slough children have received cycle training at school over the last two school years, and how many summer training schemes;
1. were held on 2006? 2. are planned for 2007?
Does the training now provided comply with the National Bikeability Scheme standards (these standards are the only Government approved national standards for cycle training), and are you able to provide an explanation as to why the National Bikeabilty website has the following observation to make on local provision in Slough?
"Your local authority does not offer Bikeability yet, you may wish to contact them to find out what schemes they currently offer"
The Bikeability funding guidance currently offered to schools states " All extra funding for cycle training is being channelled through local authorities at present, so if you would like to offer Bikeability training at your school you should contact your local authority in the first instance." Can you please let me know how much Bikeability funding has been devolved to Slough, and if it has not been spent on Bikeability, on what has it been spent?
From 2000 to 2006 the Road Safety Unit offered cycle training through volunteers. No charge was made to the participants and no payment was given to the trainers. The number of pupils trained in Slough schools was -
2000-01 78 2001-02 69 2003-04 49 2004-05 30 2005-06 20
2000-01 78
2001-02 69
2003-04 49
2004-05 30
2005-06 20
In 2000, 'summer' courses were run training 35 young people (aged 10-15)
In 2005, six were registered for the summer course with only three finally attending.
Due to the limited uptake and financial viability no course was run in 2006. None are planned for 2007.
The national scheme requires all trainers to have undergone a one week residential course with ongoing monitoring. The cost is at present £400 per person, and the training cannot be cascaded to others.
Due to the training time and cost implications the national scheme requires, it has not been possible for the Council's Road Safety Unit to sign up to the scheme. This means that from September 2005 on-road cycle training was no longer provided through the Council.
It was still important to encourage children to cycle for health benefits as well as promoting cycling as a form of transport. Therefore the Road Safety Unit developed a new training scheme for off-road training. The aim of the new scheme is to provide off-road cycle training with an emphasis on safety and route planning. The course endeavours to raise awareness of safe cycle use for leisure and transport
Since starting the off road cycle awareness courses, many more children have undergone training. As anticipated, without the ratio restrictions that on-road training required, more schools have taken up cycle awareness.
Between Jan 06 - Jan 07 - 64 pupils took part in off-road awareness course. Between Jan 07 - July 07 - 45 pupils took part in off-road awareness course. On Saturday 21st July a cycle awareness event was being held at Our Lady of Peace School for 21 pupils.
Between Jan 06 - Jan 07 - 64 pupils took part in off-road awareness course.
Between Jan 07 - July 07 - 45 pupils took part in off-road awareness course. On Saturday 21st July a cycle awareness event was being held at Our Lady of Peace School for 21 pupils.
SBC's road safety unit has not received any money through the national 'Bikeability' scheme.
