Cheshire children build safer cycling skills for life

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-13 09:38 3 min read

Children wearing helmets practicing road safety skills on a simulated outdoor cycling course.

Nearly three in four Year 6 pupils in Cheshire West and Chester received practical cycle training during 2025/26, giving thousands of children experience designed to help them ride more safely and independently.

Cheshire West and Chester Council delivered 3,648 Bikeability places over the financial year. It says 74 per cent of Year 6 pupils in the borough completed Level 1 and Level 2 training.

The figure shows the reach of the programme among this age group, rather than proving that every child in the borough can cycle confidently. Participation can vary between schools and pupils, while the training is intended to build skills over time.

What 3,648 Bikeability places covered in Cheshire

Bikeability is the national cycle-training programme supported by the Department for Transport and administered by the Bikeability Trust. Its courses are intended to help children and beginners develop the confidence, road awareness and practical control needed for everyday cycling.

Level 1 and Level 2 training focuses on the foundations of riding and applying those skills in a road environment. For families, the practical result is that children can learn how to handle a bike, assess road situations and make safer decisions before taking longer or more independent journeys, alongside wider safety skills.

The council said the programme supports healthier travel choices as well as road safety. Nationally, more than six million children have received Bikeability training since it began in 2007.

Pupils reported more confidence on roads and longer rides

Feedback gathered after a session at Mouton School described pupils enjoying the training and reporting that they had learned new skills. Some children on the Level 1 course had not ridden a bike before the sessions, according to a school spokesperson, but said the instructors had helped them feel confident riding.

Cheshire children build safer cycling skills for life

The spokesperson also said pupils felt safer on roads and more able to consider longer-distance rides after the teaching. That feedback reflects confidence reported by participants, rather than a measured record of later cycling behaviour or collision outcomes.

One parent told the council that her nine-year-old son had become more willing to wear a helmet after taking part. She credited the instructor-led course with changing his attitude to cycling safety.

National programme recorded more than 524,000 completions

Across the UK, more than 524,000 children completed Bikeability training in 2025/26, including places through Get Cycling in Schools, the programme said. It also estimated that children who took part helped save 595 tonnes of carbon-dioxide-equivalent emissions by choosing to cycle.

Councillor Karen Shore, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, said the programme helps young people gain independence while supporting active travel. She said almost three quarters of local Year 6 pupils took part last year.

Family and adult cycling sessions are also available

The council said its Bikeability team also offers free sessions for families and adults. These are aimed at people learning to ride, returning to cycling after time away, or looking to improve skills for local journeys.

Parents, carers and children can learn together through family sessions, while adult training is available for complete beginners and more experienced riders. Cheshire West and Chester residents seeking upcoming sessions and booking information can use the council’s Bikeability training provider information.

Source: Cheshire West and Chester Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report uses Cheshire West and Chester Council’s published training figures and identifies where participant feedback or national estimates are not outcome measurements.

Checks

Council figure checked: 3,648 Bikeability training places delivered in 2025/26.
Council participation figure checked: 74 per cent of Year 6 pupils received Level 1 and Le...
National context checked: more than 524,000 completions in 2025/26.
National emissions figure identified as an estimate: 595 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Cheshire West and Chester Council Check Bikeability context