Mother and daughter embrace Bikeability on their tandem

The Hertfordshire Cycling Walking and Wheeling team visited Wheatfields School annually to deliver Bikeability training recently, including to a mother and daughter team using tandem bicycle.

The school requested the team designed an inclusive programme for 85 year 6 children. The group included Sienna who is visual impaired, she joined in the training on a tandem. Cycling can be a wonderful activity for visually impaired children and their parents.

Tandem cycling is a popular choice as it allows the parent (the pilot) to control the steering, brakes and gears while the child pedals. The role of pilot for the week was split between her mother Catherine and a family friend.

Katrin Rejahl, Cycle Instructor, embraced the opportunity to work with Sienna and her pilots. The pair joined the Bikeability Level 2 (on road) course along with 6 of Sienna’s classmates.

Katrin adapted her approach to training, to verbalise everything they were teaching so Sienna was fully aware of what was happening.

Sienna said “It was very, very great fun going on a bike with my friends, we learned about hand gestures, different gears and what to do at a T junction, how to stop and listen to what is happening. I loved it!”

And her mother Catherine agreed: “[It was] wonderful to feel that my daughter could be included in Bikeability and feel like all her friends. Being able to participate on a tandem gave her a real feel for the road and be able to learn vital skills needed.”

The team look forward to going back to Wheatfields next year and hope to continue making Bikeability inclusive for everybody.

Find out more about the The Hertfordshire Cycling Walking and Wheeling team by getting in touch with cycle.training@hertfordshire.gov.uk