Bikeability

Peter Clinch wrote:

Chris Smith wrote:

I was wondering what to do about anyone turning up with recumbents or
trikes. I guess I'd be happy to accept roadies as well as full-suss
MTB's, so the same argument probably applies. The more the merrier!

Cycles are cycles are cycles, and the same stuff largely applies to
riding trikes and 'bents as anything else.

When I was doing my trainer's training I used the Brom

I regularly use the brommie for training sessions - and will be doing so
this afternoon :-)
Its good to show youngsters the wide range of machines.
i wouldn't use the Trice tho :-(

With trikes you need to know to account for the steering differences,
especially with uprights, but aside from that the same rules apply and
what works as good roadcraft is equally applicable as to a "normal" bike.

In road positioning respects a trike can be beneficial as they naturally
take the primary position.

John B

Dave wrote:

wrote in message
oups.com...
On 19 Mar, 19:00, Tom Crispin
wrote:
Bikeability is the replacement for the Cycle Profienency Test.

I like the sound of it. Anything to get more people on bikes is a good
thing. Will be interesting to see how well it works.


I would agree - but like with anything else it will be down to areas.

Around here the "Cycle Training Scheme" as far as I know was/is not the same
as some other places so there seemed to be some local variations to the old
Cycling Proficiency Training that was National.

Then again it came down to schools too. Many schools do not offer it full
stop, others do in varying degrees and standards.

The Big Advantage, is that the National Standard Training (aka Bikeability) can
be available outside the often restrictive Local authority/school system.
Independent trainers are popping up all over the country.

IMO that is the way to increase cycling, and where support should be provided,
rather than the present trend of pumping funding into organisations that only
provide training reluctantly
Such bodies often lack any real enthusiasm for increasing cycling and provide
the service for political purposes.

I must also express a personal interest here.

I know one kid who did all the training and as there was only one teacher at
the school who did it who was ill at the end of term they didn't get to take
the test and get the badge and certs. The school never considered to lethem
do it later or get someone else to test them. It was unfortunate and they
had missed their slot.

Lets hope the new way goes a bit better.

it will still depend on the standard of the training provider.

John B

Following on from Dave's message. . .
Then again it came down to schools too. Many schools do not offer it full
stop, others do in varying degrees and standards.

Trap!
Why should cycle training be just for kids? Adults cycle training is
just as important and should not be sidelined by "training via schools
full stop".

Wake up call Ask your local education authority what adult education
colleges round your way offer cycle training. They can all do 'macrame
for bricklayers' and 'colourful mosaic art for healthy eating' but NONE
do cycle training.


--
PETER FOX Not the same since the borehole business dried up

www.eminent.demon.co.uk - Lots for cyclists

"John B" wrote in message
...


Dave wrote:

wrote in message
oups.com...
On 19 Mar, 19:00, Tom Crispin
wrote:
Bikeability is the replacement for the Cycle Profienency Test.

I like the sound of it. Anything to get more people on bikes is a good
thing. Will be interesting to see how well it works.


I would agree - but like with anything else it will be down to areas.

Around here the "Cycle Training Scheme" as far as I know was/is not the
same
as some other places so there seemed to be some local variations to the
old
Cycling Proficiency Training that was National.

Then again it came down to schools too. Many schools do not offer it
full
stop, others do in varying degrees and standards.

The Big Advantage, is that the National Standard Training (aka
Bikeability) can
be available outside the often restrictive Local authority/school system.
Independent trainers are popping up all over the country.


I have no doubt that in some areas there will be plenty of choice and in
others there will be none or little. The standard may be high and consistent
if you can get it.

IMO that is the way to increase cycling, and where support should be
provided,
rather than the present trend of pumping funding into organisations that
only
provide training reluctantly
Such bodies often lack any real enthusiasm for increasing cycling and
provide
the service for political purposes.


I totally agree - the LEA and schools do it because it is considered a good
thing but they have to find someone to do it rather than employing someone
who has it as their job.

The other side though is if offered as a separate thing and as a consequence
schools decide to drop it how many parents will then actually want to commit
to a few hours for them to train and at a cost to them. I am involved in
youth work so I know what apathy there is with many parents.

I must also express a personal interest here.

I know one kid who did all the training and as there was only one
teacher at
the school who did it who was ill at the end of term they didn't get to
take
the test and get the badge and certs. The school never considered to
lethem
do it later or get someone else to test them. It was unfortunate and
they
had missed their slot.

Lets hope the new way goes a bit better.

it will still depend on the standard of the training provider.

Very true. And I do hope that things do go well and it gets more people
cycling.

Dave

Peter Fox wrote:

Wake up call Ask your local education authority what adult education
colleges round your way offer cycle training. They can all do 'macrame
for bricklayers' and 'colourful mosaic art for healthy eating' but NONE
do cycle training.

In these days of increasing cost consciousness I think it more likely
that you won't e able to do cycling /or/ macrame for bricklayers.
However, cycling is a more useful thing to have.

The local organisation I volunteered for is mainly for adults rather
than kids. Must get back in touch ASAP and see how the application for
continued funding went...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"Peter Fox" wrote in
message ...
Following on from Dave's message. . .
Then again it came down to schools too. Many schools do not offer it full
stop, others do in varying degrees and standards.

Trap!
Why should cycle training be just for kids?

I am not saying it should be. But this is where they catch them as they are
captive at school.

Adults cycle training is
just as important and should not be sidelined by "training via schools
full stop".


I agree - but around here I think that there is just one person who runs
cycle training as a business.

Wake up call Ask your local education authority what adult education
colleges round your way offer cycle training. They can all do 'macrame
for bricklayers' and 'colourful mosaic art for healthy eating' but NONE
do cycle training.


I would agree. To be honest though I don't think that the LEA has anything
to do with the Colleges (not around here anyway).

There are 4 colleges close to me and none of them run cycling, but then
again they have all dropped courses that are not related to A Levels and
similar Diplomas etc, NVQ or others similar. All the hobby type courses have
been dropped due to lack of funding from the Government so no Cake Icing for
beginners, and creative drawing, holiday German and other evening type hobby
courses here.

Dave

On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:12:13 +0000, Peter Clinch
wrote:

Peter Fox wrote:

Wake up call Ask your local education authority what adult education
colleges round your way offer cycle training. They can all do 'macrame
for bricklayers' and 'colourful mosaic art for healthy eating' but NONE
do cycle training.

In these days of increasing cost consciousness I think it more likely
that you won't e able to do cycling /or/ macrame for bricklayers.
However, cycling is a more useful thing to have.

Don't say that in front of a group of bricklayers.

Particularly if they have rather nice macrame covers for their hods!

Peter Fox wrote:
Following on from Dave's message. . .
Then again it came down to schools too. Many schools do not offer it full
stop, others do in varying degrees and standards.

Trap!
Why should cycle training be just for kids? Adults cycle training is
just as important and should not be sidelined by "training via schools
full stop".

Have a look at Southwark Cyclists Bikestart rides:
http://www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk/...ikestart.shtml

They are proving very popular.

Greenwich cyclists have also organised adult training sessions, along
the riverfront at Woolwich. Training done by an accredited trainer.

On 20 Mar, 12:48, Peter Fox
wrote:

Why should cycle training be just for kids? Adults cycle training is
just as important and should not be sidelined by "training via schools
full stop".

Wake up call Ask your local education authority what adult education
colleges round your way offer cycle training. They can all do 'macrame
for bricklayers' and 'colourful mosaic art for healthy eating' but NONE
do cycle training.

My understanding is that Adult Education is now funded by the Learning
Skills Council who are given a brief from the government on what
skills they should be giving priority to. You may well find that there
is a lot less macrame and mosaic art than there used to be (unless one
can obtain a nationally validated certificate in it) and I expect that
Tony/Gordon haven't yet told LSC to get the nation on their bikes.

Nevertheless there are many local authorities battling with the air
quality agenda who are highly supportive of adult cycle training. I
continue to be gob-smacked at what Ealing offer and even my London
borough of Hounslow offers

http://www.citycycling.org.uk/

as an offshoot of its Urban Pedal Pros training.

TimHenderson wrote:

Nevertheless there are many local authorities battling with the air
quality agenda who are highly supportive of adult cycle training. I
continue to be gob-smacked at what Ealing offer and even my London
borough of Hounslow offers

My LA proudly proclaims it offers cycle training for adults, but it is
simply a video that can be borrowed.

Well, it could be borrowed, but they seem to have lost it.

John B