2018/19 was a really positive year for First Step Cycle.
Over the last academic year, we worked with primary schools from across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Our team helped thousands of children at primary schools across the region to become competent and confident cyclists, through the delivery of our Bikeability Level 1 and Level 2 programmes.
As the new academic year begins, we catch up with the latest news from across the division.
The Team Expands – New Starters
To keep up with rising demand for our services, we’ve taken on 5 new instructors for the 2019/2020 academic year. The new starters joined us for the beginning of September, and took part in an intensive Bikeability training course at the end of the summer.
They coaches are now fully qualified Bikeability cycle coaches, and are gaining experience and honing their skills under the watchful eyes and tutelage of our experienced lead instructors, at schools across our region.
Beyond Bikeability – Learn to Ride
At First Step Cycle, we don’t just offer Bikeability – we also work with schools to offer extra-curricular Learn to Ride programmes for younger children.
Designed to get young people riding, and to help them develop confidence in riding their bikes, it’s the safe, fun way to develop foundation cycling skills. Over the six-week course (6 x 90 minute lessons), participants learn all the essential skills they need to ride safely in a non-traffic environment. By the end of the course, the goal for every participant is to be up to the National Standard of a Level 1 Rider.
Currently, we’re running a Learn to Ride programme as an after school club at a primary school in East Yorkshire, and the results have been fantastic.
We’re only in our second week, but from a standing start, every rider on the programme has made real progress, with ¾ of the participants already able to ride unaided. All the riders now know how to do a basic health and safety check, so they know what clothing they should be wearing, and how to check their bikes are safe to rise.
The parents are delighted, with many amazed at how quickly we’ve got their children riding.
The next stage is to teach the participants to ride one handed, so they can safely signal to other road users.
