Life-Saving Cycle Training Given Massive Cash Injection
The award was the third largest in the UK and the biggest in the West Midlands with Staffordshire getting a third of the total grant for the region.
The boost recognises Staffordshire's success in delivering effective cycle training and it means Staffordshire can really move up a gear in delivering cycle training to schools across the county.
Last year the team of specialist cycle safety trainers delivered potentially life saving Bikeability sessions to 1,500 youngsters. But from April the team will be really going for it - taking cycle training to 4,000 kids aged 9 to 11 years old.
Staffordshire's Cabinet Member with responsibility for Road Safety Councillor Carol Dean said: "More and more children and their parents are choosing cycling and walking to school. Cycling is great exercise and is the environmentally friendly transport choice as it is carbon neutral and doesn't contribute to climate change.
"But we want cyclists to be safe. Cycle training is just one part of our work making it safer and easier to cycle for everyone in the community. This includes creating a network of cycle lanes now totalling over 278kms and growing.
"Cycle training is an essential part of ensuring that cyclists are aware of the dangers and how to maximise their safety, and that also their responsibilities as road users. The earlier people develop these skills the better," she said.
Government Transport Minister Rosie Winterton, who announced the grants last week, said cycling had a major role to play in delivering sustainable travel with 41% of all trips less than two miles, a distance easily cycled in less than 15 minutes.
"Encouraging cycling also encourages healthier lifestyles. Considering obesity affects around one quarter of adults and 1 in 10 children, encouraging people to take exercise has never been more important," she said.
The Bikeability course has been a real hit with Staffordshire schools.
Alison Elsmore from Tillington Manor Primary School, Stafford, said:
"The children enjoyed it so much and gained a lot of really good practical advice from the trainers. We would like to include it in our programme of events every year."
Richard West, Deputy Headmaster, Penkridge Middle School, Penkridge, said:
"I'd like to thank the team for setting up the training and especially to the Trainers who were fantastic. The children loved the training."
Jenny Fisher, Teacher, Edge Hill Primary School, Burton, said:
"We would definitely do the training again and feel now that with the children being trained we would encourage cycling to school."
Jenny is now working on a School Travel Plan with the School Travel Team with a view to purchasing cycle storage with the grant funding.
Would you like to comment on what you have read? You can - simply click on the link below and share your thoughts now!
Burton Local News - 'Your' voice in the Community... let it be heard.