A View from the Handlebars: Back to Cycle School
Remember your cycling proficiency test? Well, these days, it’s not just kids who can benefit from bike training. Bikeability courses aimed at helping adults gain confidence on two wheels are available in Hull and the East Riding. CycHull member Alan Gribben decided to try one out for himself.
Cyclists should be made to pass a test! It's time to bring back the cycle proficiency test! Anyone who has had the misfortune to read public comments on any cycling related story will have heard these diatribes many times. It's usually in response to some actual but more often falsely perceived road traffic violation.
In reality most incidents involving adults driving and cycling are attributed to the driver. Cycling poses a very low risk to others and formal licensing schemes have been rejected by successive governments as too expensive to administer and difficult to enforce with little public safety benefit. Anything that deters people from undertaking an activity that has overwhelming positive social, economic, health, safety and environmental benefits is a bad thing. But is there anything to be gained from testing and training?
Around 85% of adults who cycle also hold a driving licence. I passed my car test first time at 17 and the Institute of Advanced Motorists Test (also first time) in my early twenties. A key part of being an advanced driver is maintaining knowledge of the Highway Code - which I do. I've also read Cyclecraft by John Franklin – largely regarded as the authoritative manual of cycling safety and best practice. But it struck me that despite riding a bike since a toddler, having an excellent safety record and leading rides for CycHull and Hull Friends of the Earth, I've never undertaken any formal cycle training.
For some reason I never did the cycling proficiency test at school. Apparently it involved negotiating cones and hugging the kerb. Cycling proficiency has been replaced by Bikeability - the government’s national cycle training programme. It's designed to teach practical skills and understanding to cycle on today’s roads. There are three levels: Level 1 is done off the road and teaches skills like balance; and safely stopping and starting. Level 2 heads out onto quiet roads learning to negotiate parked cars, understand road signs and markings. Level 3 focusses on more advanced skills like positioning and tackles more complex roads layouts.
There are courses available for children, families and adults of all abilities. Given my experience, I opted for level 3. Living in Cottingham, I searched for a course with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and filled out a form with what I was looking for. It took a while for the team to get back to me – I suspect they're very busy. They offered my a range of dates and venues for some bespoke cycle training. The courses are all free but only seem available during the week. I booked leave and chose Beverley Leisure Centre. After a lengthy health questionnaire – more akin to ascending Kilimanjaro than undertaking an activity that should be accessible to most people – and a stern warning about having a correctly fitted helmet – I was all booked in.
It was a beautiful sunny morning when we met outside Beverley Leisure Centre. I was surprised and delighted to see the cycle racks full and there appeared to be more customers arriving at the leisure centre on bikes than driving. There were just three of us on the course – which was ideal - and our brilliant friendly instructor, Christian. We did some introductions and talked about what we wanted to get out of the training. All of us were fairly experienced and were looking to consolidate our knowledge and skills. After an ABCD safety check (air, brakes, chain and direction) of our bikes, donning of some hi-vis and a helmet check we were on the way. I have personal reservations about the effectiveness of helmets and hi-vis but didn't feel this was the place to argue the point. The hi-vis did have a helpful message on the back for drivers “Distance makes the difference”.
We set off, each taking turns to lead with our instructor observing from the rear. A big focus was on road positioning. No longer do we hug the kerb – instead choosing a “primary” position central to the lane when needing to increase visibility or deter unsafe overtakes - moving back to “secondary” a metre or so out from the kerb to avoid the potholes and debris. I knew this but it was good to get real-life feedback from a professional trainer. “Cycling in the middle of the road” is one of those false perceived traffic violations used by some driver commentators to refer to people taking primary position but this is exactly what is taught in Cyclecraft and Bikeability. They're possibly thinking back to their cycling proficiency days. At one point I indicated around some parked cars which I was told is not good practice – as it confuses drivers – a shoulder glance should be enough. We also learnt about some of the difficulties heavy goods drivers face seeing and overtaking people cycling. I personally believe there needs to be better vehicle design and technology but it's always useful to hear things from the other perspective and try to position ourselves accordingly.
We stopped at various points to get instructor feedback on our riding, share our thoughts and ask questions. I also discovered a range of streets and places I never knew about as we wound our way around the town. We all received positive feedback but took the chance to keep practising for the rest of the morning.
The traffic was fairly light and drivers were polite and respectful. At the end we had a good de-brief. We'd all met the level 3 standard and I got a little pin badge to prove it - along with the hi-vis vest to keep. Was it worth taking a morning off work for? Absolutely. We're never too old to learn. Cycle training won't protect you from someone driving under the influence of drink or drugs or using a mobile phone at the wheel. I got close-passed on the way home despite my road positioning and the prominent advice adorning my back but it will teach you important techniques to make yourself safer and most importantly give you that confidence to enjoy your ride.
Bikeability contacts
For training in East Riding of Yorkshire go to: Contact Us - East Riding Council Travel (eastridingroadsafety.co.uk)
For training in Hull including the adult Rusty Riders scheme visit: First Step Cycle | The Path To Safer Cycling (firststep-cycle.co.uk)