Safer Cycling Is Taught To Comprehensive Pupils

Caerphilly county borough council are offering Comprehensive School pupils lessons on how to become safer cyclists. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project, in partnership with Gethin MTB and funded by the Welsh Government, aims to encourage more people to get on their bikes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Levels 1 and 2 are already being taught to year 6 pupils across the borough. The levels focus on how to control and master a bike along with general road safety. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Level 3 Standards Training is underway at Heolddu Comprehensive, Lewis Pengam, Bedwas High and Upper Rhymney Comprehensive. Here, pupils deal with more challenging roads and traffic situations such as cycling through traffic lights and roundabouts. They also learn how to deal with hazards, making ‘on-the-move’ risk assessments and planning routes for safer cycling. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The training is delivered in small groups, so it can be tailored to an individual’s needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Once the Level 3 training has been completed, pupils should be able to cycle almost anywhere. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Tom Williams, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transportation and Engineering said: “I am pleased to see how successful this project has become. It is imperative school children are taught about road safety whether they are on foot or on a bicycle. This project not only provides the children with the skills to become safer cyclists but also helps them become safer drivers in the future. I look forward to hearing about the other schools that take part in this scheme.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​