Girls learn skills to make them safer cyclists

‘Bikeability’ is cycling proficiency for the 21st century, designed to give the next generation the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today’s roads.

The ten and eleven-year olds undertook a week of training led by the West Sussex County Council Road Safety Team.

The training starts with bike checks and basic manoeuvres, before moving on to riding on roads in Slinfold.

By the end of the week they learnt how to:

n Start and finish a journey by road, including passing parked or slower moving vehicles

n Make a U-turn

n Identify and react to hazards in the road

n Signal intentions to other road users

n Understand where to ride on the road

n Use junctions, including turning left and right into major and minor roads

n Decide whether a cycle lane will help a journey

n Use the Highway Code, particularly when it comes to understanding road signs.

The girls learnt an essential set of skills from road safety professionals which will not only build their confidence on the roads, but increase their road awareness, making them safer cyclists.

An assessment will took place on Friday.