Lancashire tops table for training pupils to ride their bikes
Lancashire has topped a new cycling league table, with more primary school children in the county being trained to use their bikes last year than anywhere else in the North-West.
New figures from the Bikeability Trust show that cycle training is reaching more children than ever before, with 8 out of 10 pupils in the county participating during their final years of primary school.
Lancashire is also third in England for the proportion of pupils receiving training either at Level 1, where children learn fundamental skills on the playground, or Level 2 where they learn how to handle their bikes on the road.
According to the Bikeability Trust, cycle training not only teaches children how to ride their bikes, it also equips them with vital life skills, helping them gain independence, social skills and wellbeing. It also helps children become better at responding to risks, and boosts their confidence.
County Councillor Scott Smith, Lancashire County Council lead member for highways and active travel, said: "11,840 pupils in Lancashire completed cycle training last year, helping to equip them with the skills and confidence to use their bikes to get around for the rest of their lives.
"This is a great result for our county as we continue to make significant investments in our cycling infrastructure and capitalise on the growth in the numbers of people choosing to cycle for everyday journeys as well as for leisure.
"I'd like to congratulate every pupil who completed their training, and hope that they continue to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of cycling.
"I'd also like to thank schools for their commitment to ensuring their pupils benefit from learning how to use their bikes for active travel, and the really great providers we have in Lancashire who make it possible to deliver this training to so many pupils every year."
You can find out more about this story at bikeability.org.uk/bikeability-news or visit lancashire.gov.uk/activetravel to find out more about walking and cycling in Lancashire.