Question reference: S6W-01338
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 8 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 22 July 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that every child leaves school with the ability to cycle safely.
Answer
Since 2019-20, the Scottish Government has invested over £3 million in the Bikeability Scotland programme run by Cycling Scotland. Bikeability has three levels of competency which teaches children to ride and control a bike, learn to cycle on quiet streets and cycle independently on busier roads. All schools have the opportunity to participate in all levels of Bikeability, with access to free training resources and instructor training.
The most recent full academic year of delivery, pre-pandemic, was 2018-19. 47% of primary schools in 29 participating local authorities delivered Level 2 on-road training, with over 43,000 pupils receiving cycle training, an increase from 37% in 2015-16. This year, 31 local authorities are taking part in delivering Level 2 training.
17 secondary schools currently deliver Bikeability Level 3 training – to cycle independently on busier roads. In 2021-22, an additional 16 secondary schools will introduce this programme.