The impact of cycle skills training on cycling confidence and behaviour

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of cycle skills training (playground, cycle lane and on-road) in improving rates of cycling for transport and leisure, cycling skills, attitudes to cycling, cycling confidence and perceived cycling safety among school children. A mixed-method, quasi experimental, follow up study, with intervention and control groups was conducted in Co. Waterford with 631 children (470 primary:25 x 3rd and 4th classes; 161 secondary: 3 x 2nd year classes), who completed questionnaires, cycling skills tests and qualitative focus group discussions, pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and at one, six and 12 months later. There were significant increases in the numbers who had ever cycled to school, skills test scores, confidence on ‘big’ roads and junctions etc. and feeling safe cycling to school. The biggest gains were in primary school and among girls. ‘Grow-ups don’t want me to cycle’ remained a main barrier. Children believed they had better cycling skills than they actually did and most had no idea how to safely negotiate a T-junction or roundabout, or how to indicate with hand signals. This underscores the importance of a national roll-out of cycle skills training across all schools to support the Government’s Smarter Travel policies