Daniel Zeichner has backed calls from the Bicycle Association to make the Bikeability training scheme available to all children after a recent study reported a worrying decline in children’s cycling ownership and access rates.

At present, the Department for Transport (DfT) has allocated £50m from 2016 until 2020 for Bikeability in schools via grants to local authorities and School Games Host Schools (SGHS). Training places cost £40 per head. However, demand is currently outstripping supply. Only half of primary schools in England receive Bikeability and bids from local authorities and SGHS exceed available funding.

A recent study for the Bicycle Association showed a troubling decline in children’s bicycle ownership and access since 2010, arguing that sustained investment in infrastructure, training, and promotion is needed. Doubling the DfT budget for Bikeability from £12m to £24m per year would allow all schools to offer the scheme.

In Parliament, Daniel recently called on the Government to expand the Bikeability scheme. Last year, Daniel experienced Bikeability with Outspoken Cycle Training (LINK).

Daniel Zeichner said: “Expanding Bikeability would help reduce health inequality because all schools should be able to provide cycle safety training for their students. The training increases children’s safety awareness and the Government itself accepts that the scheme delivers good outcomes, so we should look to invest further whenever possible.”