I never went on a cycling proficiency course. I remember one was offered when I was very young at school. But, since I didn’t cycle at the time, I didn’t go.
I regret it now. Although I’m not sure how cycling around cones on a playground would have equipped me for dealing with double decker buses on Magdalen Roundabout.
Nevertheless, given how many accidents can occur while cycling, there is definitely potential for offering better cycle training. A report in Independent says the rise in cycling by new people has cause a rise in accidents. Article (I treat these statistics with caution: it may be a small sample size, if more people cycle it follows there will be more accidents. I also think the headline is a typical media headline exaggerating for effect.)
I think a very good time would be for teenagers around 15 or 16. At the risk of being ageist and characterising cyclists by age, it is this age group who seem to have the least regard for regulations such as cycling on pavements, going through red lights and not using lights at night. The crucial things to learn for a cycling are in a way common sense, but, they still need pointing out.
Things which would really help New Cyclists
- Confidence to cycle with one hand off handlebar to signal and look over shoulder. The ability to look over your shoulder I find indispensable, but, often I notice cyclists don’t do it.
- Being aware of dangerous manoeuvres.
- - going on the inside of a lorry or bus when lorry might turn left.
- - Turning right in moving traffic
- Reminders of basic regulations like using lights.
I’m not advocating compulsory cycling proficiency tests. But, given the social benefits of cycling, government subsidies for short refresher courses are definitely justified. Good training courses may help give many wavering cyclists the confidence to take up cycling, and also teach important lessons to existing cyclists.
It wouldn’t have to be long courses. Even in just one two hour session you could probably convey much of what is practically beneficial.
Maybe we even need lessons for dealing with road rage e.t.c.
It is also important to not exaggerate the dangers of cycling and remember the benefits
Having just tried for an hour to find a train company that allows to book cycles online, and failed miserably, I suggest one thing that would help new cyclists is that Train operators are forced to reinstate the free carriage of a large number of cycles.
Time was when in Britain anyone could take a bike, in the guard’s carriage, where the post was transported. If we could persuade the Royal Mai to use Rail again, instead of carbon-intensive road haulage, and let cyclists carry their bikes on it.
Thanks cyclenewbie
Good luck with your new blog
http://www.cyclenewbie.wordpress.com/
I’m on a free cycle proficiency course run by the local authority at the moment called Bikeability. They teach all the things that you have suggested for new cyclists plus more. I believe the training to be very comprehensive and thorough. So I think the government are doing something. I also think it’s important to have a proficient test because I see some cyclists doing things not advocated on my course. Only yesterday, I saw two adults cycling on the pavement and I saw another cycle straight across a red light.
Many of the adults on my course have never learnt to cycle before, like myself, and range from thirty-somethings up to 70 years old! The course is as long as one likes, once a week for a morning or afternoon. I have become so ‘in love’ with my new cycling experiences that I have started to blog it! I think my problem is one of confidence amongst loads of inner city London traffic and the lack of daylight hours in the winter. Hopefully I will overcome that one day!
Interesting thought. I think that dealing with road rage and interacting with other forms of transportation (pedestrians, buses, etc.) is a great idea!
Typical British cynical gutter media scaremongering tripe feeding the Brain-Dead Bike-Phobic British Public the stories they want to hear.
The CTC totally refuted that article, branding it as scaremongering, stating that:
“In London there has been a 91 per cent increase in cycle use on the capital’s main roads since 2000, and a 33 per cent reduction in cycle casualties in roughly the same period.”
The full story from BikeBiz.
And another from Cycling Weekly.