Bikeability instruction can help to keep children safer on our roads 

Staying safe on the road is on the mind of everyone who cycles, especially for children and their parents and carers. Whether cycling for fun or transport, it’s vital we all feel safe when we go on a ride.  

A recent study conducted by the Bikeability Trust looks into how the number of killed or seriously injured (KSI) statistics involving cyclists could be reduced by road users’ awareness and cyclists’ use of the national standard for cycle training (NSCT). By mapping the NSCT against national KSI statistics, the study highlights the importance of cycle training and the key strategies cyclists can use to help keep them safer on the roads. 

The NSCT is a set of rules and guidelines to help everybody cycle safely and responsibly. It is the foundation for Bikeability cycle training – this is what Bikeability instructors teach all Bikeability riders when they learn to cycle safely. 

The study emphasises the importance of all road users’ awareness of the NSCT, and highlights key strategies that riders can use to reduce the risk of incidents including those that: 

• Help cyclists remain visible to other road users 
• Enable cyclists to claim the necessary space needed to keep them at a safe distance from other road users 
• Anticipate and respond to hazards 

Bikeability cycle training teaches riders how to use these strategies confidently and competently. Completing all three levels of Bikeability cycle training can be an effective way to make our roads safer for everyone. And no matter how we choose to get around, it is important that the NSCT is understood by everyone so we can work together to create safer roads for all. 

For more information, you can read the full report here.