Cycle safety training
Cyclist training for young people is a very important way of
increasing their safety.
Kent Rider Plus scheme
Training lasts for one and a half days and the trainees are
assessed throughout, there is no final test. All attendees receive
a certificate and the instructor provides comments on areas which
need developing.
We have produced a short film entitled 'Head
on' to accompany the training scheme that
aims to raise awareness and the importance of wearing a
helmet.
Can anyone go on the training?
Cyclist training is only offered through primary schools. To
access the training, please speak to the head of year 6 at the
school. To be eligible, children must:
- be in year 6 of primary school
- be at least 10 years old
- be able to ride their bike
- use a bike that is roadworthy.
How much does the training cost?
The training costs £15.
Do the cyclists need to bring their own bicycles?
Yes and it is very important that the bikes are roadworthy.
Training takes place on-road, mixing with traffic under controlled
conditions.
Bikes that are not considered to be roadworthy will not be
allowed to be used on the training. Before the training starts,
parents are given guidance on how to carry out bike safety checks.
We will not carry out any repair or alterations to bikes or
equipment.
Is it safe for the trainees to go on the road?
It is necessary for trainees to go on the road - the purpose of
the training is to help them be safer when cycling on the road. We
take measures to increase safety during the training:
- all trainees and instructors wear yellow waistcoats
- all instructors are trained to national standards
- all training sites are risk assessed by qualified staff.
What else does the training provide?
A vital part of the training is the workbook, which we
provide about a week before the training starts. All trainees
are expected to complete the workbook before they attend, ideally
with the support of parents.
This helps the trainees to begin thinking about important safety
issues. If trainees don't provide the completed workbook at the
training, they won't reach the minimum standard.
For a cyclist to complete the course, they must:
- complete the accompanying workbook
- be able to demonstrate that they can check their bike's brakes
and tyres to ensure roadworthiness
- display balance whilst looking behind and signalling
- demonstrate that they can start safely from the kerb
- demonstrate that they can stop quickly using both brakes
- be able to correctly explain who has priority at junctions
- demonstrate confidence and awareness when turning left and
right, and when overtaking parked vehicles.