Bikeability

Chris A said:

Hi,
I was looking at the bikeability website and this looked like a scheme
to replace the cycling proficiency. I haven't heard of it in my area -
West yorks, and just wondered if anyone had any experience themselves
or through their children. I run an after school cycling club and am
thinking it may be worth training up as an instructor.
Cheers for any advice.

There are two slightly different but complimentary things:
(1) National standards training/trainers.
(2) Making trainers of(1) available to Local authorities and so on.

NS is logically broken down in the 'what to teach' department and trainers are 'trained
how to teach'. I found this excellent and really to the point. More about giving
participants all the skills and information they need to enjoy and make use of their bike
than handing out badges. For all ages and getting trainees to assess things for
themselves rather than 'follow the highway code'. I expect you're doing 99% of this
already, but going on the course could help focus your approach. (IIWY I'd take one or
more competent and interested people with you to get more bodies into local training.
Another thought would be to use your club members as guinea pigs and host a training
course for trainers at your school.)

Bikebility is the bureaucrat's bit. Full of [censored] and bollocks. If you're half-good
at organising then do your own thing.

--
Peter Fox
Beer, dancing, cycling and lots more at www.eminent.demon.co.uk

Peter Fox said:

Chris A said:

Hi,
I was looking at the bikeability website and this looked like a scheme
to replace the cycling proficiency. I haven't heard of it in my area -
West yorks, and just wondered if anyone had any experience themselves
or through their children. I run an after school cycling club and am
thinking it may be worth training up as an instructor.
Cheers for any advice.

There are two slightly different but complimentary things:
(1) National standards training/trainers.
(2) Making trainers of(1) available to Local authorities and so on.

NS is logically broken down in the 'what to teach' department and trainers are 'trained
how to teach'. I found this excellent and really to the point. More about giving
participants all the skills and information they need to enjoy and make use of their bike
than handing out badges. For all ages and getting trainees to assess things for
themselves rather than 'follow the highway code'. I expect you're doing 99% of this
already, but going on the course could help focus your approach. (IIWY I'd take one or
more competent and interested people with you to get more bodies into local training.
Another thought would be to use your club members as guinea pigs and host a training
course for trainers at your school.)

Bikebility is the bureaucrat's bit. Full of [censored] and bollocks. If you're half-good
at organising then do your own thing.

You can do your own thing and get it registered as a Bikeability
course.

I wrote the word 'nonsense' twice next to the bikeability
accreditation criteria checklist, listing what I do. They wrote back,
and admitted that they hadn't though the process through:

"The submission for provisional accreditation from John Ball Cycle
Training is of a consistently high standard and demonstrates an
excellent alternative model for the delivery of cycle training that
was not fully anticipated in the development of this assessment
process."

and,

"The school should be congratulated on their obvious commitment to
cycling and cycle training and will undoubtedly attract much interest
as an example of good practise."

Tom Crispin said:

"The school should be congratulated on their obvious commitment to
cycling and cycle training and will undoubtedly attract much interest
as an example of good practise."

How very perceptive of them.

Tony