Cycle training for children

The training is designed to help children to develop the skills needed to cycle in moving traffic.  If you would like to find out more, please call your area road safety officer.

Cherwell and West

Julie Jones
Telephone : 01865 321682
Mobile: 07769 915856
Email:julie.jones@oxfordshire.gov.uk

City

Wendy Jennings
Telephone: 01844 355963
Mobile: 07776 164054
Email: wendy.jennings@oxfordshire.gov.uk

South and Vale

Sarah Gniadek-Pitt
Telephone: 01235 771095
Mobile: 07979 776056
Email:sarah.gniadekpitt@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Where is the training?

Cycle training takes place in our primary schools around the county. Contact your head teacher if you are interested in your child taking the course, or if you would like to be involved with the cycle training programme yourself.

Some sports centres offer cycle training in school holidays, for which they charge:

• Kidlington & Gosford Leisure Centre, Kidlington - 01865 376368

Who does the training?

Volunteer tutors, who have been trained by qualified staff, will run the courses.

How long does it take?

It takes a minimum of six hours. Timing is flexible to fit in with school timetables, eg one to one and a half hours per session once or twice a week.

What does the child learn?

The training starts off-road, probably on a school playground, to make sure the child has good control of their bike. The on-road sessions deal with starting, stopping, left and right turns and overtaking a vehicle. Your child will also study the Highway Code.

What testing is done?

The test is in two parts. Firstly, a Highway Code test (see Tales of the Road - a children's highway code website), usually done by the volunteers. The second part is the road test, to demonstrate that the child can start, stop, and do the left and right turns safely in traffic. This is done by the county's examiners.

How much does it cost?

The training is free of charge to both the schools and the child. It is funded by our road safety budget. This is made possible by our instructors giving their services free of charge.

What equipment is needed?

A cycle in good roadworthy condition (see the safety checks document below), which is legal for on-road training, and of the correct size for the child. A correctly fitted cycle helmet is also required, which must be worn during training.

• Bicycle safety checks (pdf format, 122 Kb)