ROAD SAFETY & CYCLE TRAINING
incorporating ‘Bikeability’ and bringing Cycling Proficiency into the 21st Century ( www.bikeability.org.uk )

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National and regional press releases in reverse order with the most recent first ..

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Riding into a town, the £3,000 eco-friendly bamboo cycle
(that's a bike made of bamboo stems)

Check out these links ...... in the Daily Mail and click on the above link to go to the Bike Bamboo website!  Also the Calfee Design website.


Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 3:14 pm

Scheme of the Month - Newquay Junior School

More people cycling, more safely, more often

newquay_juniors_small

When the Bikeability pilot was launched in September 2006, Newquay Junior School asked cycle trainer Wendy Creed to work with Y3 teacher Viv Davy to deliver the programme. Viv organised a minimum of 2 groups for training each half term - Level 1 training for Years 3 and 4 and Level 2 on road training for Years 5 and 6.  In the Spring Term 2008 the PTA offered to contribute a small amount per child who did their on road training. At the same time the application to Awards for All was submitted to enable children without their own bikes to participate.

In April 2008, Viv learned that the school had been successful in winning a grant of £9,000. That figure was to cover the cost of 10 bikes. Secure bike sheds are also currently being built using this funding. The remainder, along side a grant from the Youth Sports Trust went into training costs. Now both Y5 and Y6 could have free on road training at Level 2 and Y3 and Y4 can also have playground training to Level 1 standard; a total of 150 to 200 children per year.

Newquay Juniors

Head teacher, Steve Bywaters, has supported the staff with the cost of training over and above the bursary and ensured that SATs tests timetabling has not disrupted the training. The school allows cycling during school hours and Viv hopes to train up as a National Standards Assistant Instructor when the course is ratified. Her enthusiasm has inspired three colleagues to train as National Standards Instructors.

Newquay Juniors has supported cycle training for almost 3 years, promoting it to parents as well as the children. Some parents have asked for training to take up cycling or regain their confidence.

Viv hopes to run a cycling club for the children and, during activity week in the summer term, off-roading using MTB instructors trained on CTC’s newly devised off road course.

Viv Davy is also our Personality of the Month

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 3:14 pm and is filed under Scheme of the month. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.



Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 3:07 pm

Personality of the Month - Viv Davy, Newquay Junior School

Viv Davy

What is your job or other main activity that involves cycling?
I am a Year 3 teacher at Newquay Junior School (part-time / job-share) and I run the Bikeability courses for all the year groups (Year 3 to Year 6).

How long have you done that?
I have been teaching for 15 years, 10 of those at Newquay Junior, and set up the 1st cycling courses about 3 years ago, although our lottery funded “Awards For All” project began in April 2008.

Where do you live?
I live in Newquay, on the north coast of Cornwall.

What most encourages you about cycling where you live?
Having easy access to both on and off road cycling opportunities makes it easy to avoid using the car, as well as being able to enjoy the great Cornish outdoors whilst, hopefully, getting a healthy amount of exercise!

What most discourages you about cycling where you live?
Cornish weather can be quite unpredictable and being a busy teacher and mum, finding time isn’t easy!

How would you describe yourself as a cyclist?
Relaxed, confident, cycle for the fun of it and enjoy the downhill bits best!

What is you earliest cycling memory?
Riding a big tricycle and a little thick-tyred bike down “our hill” with the other kids on our road.

Where is the best place you have ever cycled?
Rotness Island in Australia.

What is your greatest achievement, in terms of encouraging more people to cycle?
Getting children who have never ridden a bike to give it a go and get involved, and to giving children the opportunity to develop the skills and confidence needed to cycle more safely both on and off the road.

What single thing do you think would do most to encourage more cycling in the UK?
Create more cycle lanes to enable safer everyday cycling opportunities.

What has been your favourite cycling experience?
Having a day out cycling with family and friends on the Camel trail.

What was your worst cycling experience?
Coming off my bike, over the handle bars and crashing head first onto the road, after pedalling madly at top speed down a hill and having to break very suddenly to avoid a friend on foot; I was only 5 or 6 at the time!

What is it about using your bike that you like the most?
I like having the freedom to get from place to place out in the fresh air - especially in the summer.

The answers given are the opinion of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of any organisation they may represent.

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Velodrome plan could be draw for Olympic hopefuls

Friday May 15, 2009, 08:55

PLANS are on track for a £1million state-of-the-art velodrome to be built in Kingsteignton.  The village is bidding to become home to the South West's only outdoor cycling track and a potential breeding ground for the next generation of Olympic hopefuls.

The Mid Devon Cycling Club, based in Kingsteignton, is putting together the bid and has received backing from Devon County Council and British Cycling, the national governing body for the sport.  It will be used by sports cyclists training for competitions and by youngsters developing their skills.

The profile of track cycling has soared in the last 12 months following British success in the Olympics but there are no modern training facilities within 100 miles of Torquay.

Andy Parker, Kingsteignton resident and chairman of the Mid Devon Cycling Club, said: "It would be wonderful to see a future Olympic cycling star emerging from the training received in our velodrome."

The council and British Cycling have agreed to co-fund the project.  Olympic success means British Cycling has money to spend on new tracks in each of the country's 10 regions.  No other areas in Devon or Cornwall are thought to be in the running for the regional track, which could be built in time for the next Games in 2012.  Currently the closest covered track is in Newport, South Wales, and the nearest outdoor one in Reading.

Ken Robertson, South West regional secretary for British Cycling, said: "This is obviously a very important development for the South West.  It will give British Cycling the opportunity to develop a range of different cycling skills including cross country and road racing, as well as the competitive use of a banked track.  It will also complement BMX and cross country facilities in the area."

The track is earmarked for former clay working land at Broadway.  Plans for a £3million sporting centre of excellence for Teign School are already well-advanced.  Land nearby is currently subject to a controversial planning application by developers Arnold White Estates which wants to build up to 600 homes.

The cycling track is subject to planning and successful negotiations with land-owners Sibelco (formerly WBB). 
There are also plans to build a cross-country and road-training tracks alongside the velodrome.

John Smith, Devon county councillor for Kingsteignton and deputy leader of the council, said: "I am really delighted we can extend the range of our sports provision in Devon with this project.

"Planning, and discussions with landowners, is well under way — all the early signs are really promising.

"Cycling is very popular in the West Country and this terrific facility will really encourage both physical fitness and the greater use of the growing number of dedicated cycle routes the county council is developing across Devon."


Pupils pedal their way to awards
Monday May 18, 2009, 12:25

SOME 100 youngsters from Newquay Junior School were awarded certificates for their cycling expertise at a special presentation assembly this week. The assembly also saw a special award for teacher Viv Davy, who received a signed certificate from Channel 4 anchorman and CTC president Jon Snow, for her contribution to cycling proficiency at the school.

Describing Viv and her work, Jon Snow said: "She is a goddess of the cycling community. She has worked tirelessly to engage ever greater numbers of young people in the joys and opportunities of cycling. Her amazing energy and commitment deserve the very best recognition we can accord her."

Viv will also appear on the Cycling England website in June as 'Personality of the Month', along with Newquay Junior School as a whole under the 'Scheme of the Month' section, having been the only school in the county to have participated constantly in Bikeabilty Cycle training both during the six months pilot 2006-2007 before it was rolled out nationally and every term since, with anything from two groups upwards, at each level.

She was presented with her award on Friday by Mo Thayre, Schools Sports Partnership Development manager, based at Poltair School in St Austell.  Friday's assembly also saw two students awarded the Bikeability Challenge Shield, which is presented to children who have trained and continued cycling, maintaining safe standards taught during the course.  The award were presented to Yasemin and Selin Sevinc for 2009.

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School has own bikes
Wednesday 13th May 2009

Newquay Junior School has held a special assembly to celebrate the cycling achievements of both staff and pupils.  The Edgcumbe Avenue school actively encourages cycling as both a green means of transport and a good way for children to stay healthy.  Teacher Viv Davy heads up the biking initiatives working with local and national bodies to encourage and provide cycling proficiency training.  The school now has its own trainee National Standards Instructor and additionally is sponsoring its own bike technician to gain a mountain bike instructors qualification as well.

There were plenty of reasons to celebrate at Friday's assembly - Newquay Junior School now owns its own bikes and helmets as a result of a successful grant application to Awards for All, which is Lottery funded. This allows the children to benefit from out of school trips. Viv has been at the forefront of everything the school has achieved in cycling and pupils and staff joined together at the assembly to thank her for her hard work.

Mo Thayre, Schools Sports Partnership Development Manager, presented Viv with a certificate signed by Channel Four News Anchorman and Cycle Touring Club President Jon Snow.  "Viv Davey is a goddess of the cycling community," wrote Mr Snow on the award.

But Viv’s wasn't the only award. The school has introduced a Bikeability Challenge Shield to recognise those who have been outstanding in their efforts to encourage cycling.  Viv wanted to give the award to hardworking sisters Diana and Amy Chalmers but the pair moved back to America in January because their father was re-posted as part of the pull-out of RAF St Mawgan's Joint Maritime Facility.

This year is the first time the award has been presented but in an effort to recognise the hard work of the Chalmers sisters, their names were the first to be put on the trophies for 2008 when they still attended Newquay Juniors and during which time, both girls who cycle regularly completed the third and final level of training to the new National Standards or Bikeability as it is better known, prior to moving to the States.  2009's award went to Yasemin and Selin Sevinc.

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Newsnet

13:18hrs, Thursday 16th April 2009

CTC’s Inclusive Cycling Forum for Deaf and Disabled People (but also including people with long term health conditions).

 CTC’s Inclusive Cycling Group
At a workshop held in Reading the ‘CTC Disability Cyclist Forum’ decided they needed a new name and will now be known as CTC’s Inclusive Cycling Group. Among items discussed were initial plans for a CTC Conference to be held late in 2010 and an area on the CTC website where information can be posted.

Mission Statement.

The Forum aims to be the point for information, consultation and communication on all issues that are relevant and important to members throughout the country.

The Forum will strive to:

  • Exchange information relating to cycling for disabled people and people with long term health conditions on a regular basis.

  • Mount a campaign to have bikes accepted as mobility aids.

  • Promote cycling as a means of transport, leisure and exercise for disabled people and people with long term health conditions.

  • Contribute to the wider disability cycling agenda, thus influencing policy at a local, regional and national level.

  • Terms of Reference:

    1.      The Forum shall meet twice a year in Reading; the meeting shall be open to all members.

    2.      The Forum is open to all CTC members who have a disability or long term health conditions.

    3.      The Forum may extend membership to other people who may have relevant experience and services to offer.

    4.      The Forum shall have a chair and minute taker.

    5.      The Forum will regularly review its role and its membership and will agree priorities for future meetings in consultation with Forum members

    bs07

    **Use the calculator to work out figures for yourself at http://cyclescheme.co.uk/employee,calculator.htm

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    CTC's Inclusive Cycling Forum
    00:01hrs, Wednesday 1st April 2009

     

    On Saturday March 28th, a group of likeminded cycling enthusiasts came together
    from across the country, to discuss promoting 'all ability cycling' and
    how best to get it out into the public domain.

     

       
    Just a few of the group using their specially adapted bikes on the nearby track or trying out someone else's in practical terms for themselves as alternatives ..

     

    The inaugural meeting of a new cycling forum, set up to meet the needs of anyone who wishes to become involved in cycling irrespective of their circumstances, was held in Reading at the weekend.

     

    The eclectic mix of CTC members involved, all have an interest in promoting cycling to anyone who either wishes to return to cycling after an absence or try it for the first time.  This includes catering for anyone who has any kind of impairment which they believe, might prevent them from participating in an activity like cycling.  An example would be someone with different, or additional needs, such as those with mental health issues, sensory impairment, learning difficulties, or any physical/emotional needs that make it difficult for them to be included in cycling and other activities.


    The group includes the local CTC Regional Cycling Champion, members of the CTC and National Standard Instructors from both Cornwall and Devon, some of whom have to contend with such issues as ME throws up.  They all plan to meet again in the autumn and their itinerary will be to again share their ideas and experiences, with a view to progressing the promotion of cycling for everyone and the possibility of a conference on the subject in 2010.  Another of the groups' aim is to campaign to ensure that a bike is recognised as a mobility aid - as one of the members proved, himself being an amputee with his bike replacing a wheel chair or crutches and was almost part of him in the way a prosthetic leg would aid mobility.

     

    Represented were a good cross section of 'all ability' cyclists which consists of both more able bodied cyclists and those who are also amputees together with representatives from organisations such as WiZZBiKE, Wheels for Wellbeing, London Cycling Campaign, Cycling Projects and Handcycling UK, the latter of which, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, is patron.

     

    The CTC themselves, are involved with a project called Life Cycle which is part of an EU Public Health programme.  It will provide cycling for health courses where possible in partnership with General Practitioners as well as doctors and hospitals or other health referral schemes. The courses will be flexible in terms of the individual’s fitness, health and age.  Their involvement will focus particularly on older people and hard-to-reach groups in four selected regions, those being Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Reading and Swindon involving Black and Ethnic Minority women, mental health and physical health groups. The aim of this project is to establish Cycling for Health schemes as a recognised referral scheme.

     

    As an organisation, the CTC are committed to a vibrant and broad base of cyclists that encompass all sectors of the community and aim to make cycling accessible, safe and enjoyable and to develop a new cycling culture that enriches lives and communities. They have a membership of 60,000 people and bring together the largest, most dynamic, most diverse, most passionate group of cyclists in the UK. 

     

    Originally it had been hoped that the Cornish ‘Wheels for All’ centre might have been launched on 1st April 2009 but that has been delayed as it is still very much a work in progress.  However there are ongoing feasibility studies revolving around funding, local authority support, and availability of suitable locations which are all things that need to be taken into consideration before the trustees of the charity, Cycling Projects, are in a position to make any decisions.  Also Plymouth is another potential venue for such a centre so in reality, there are two possibilities in terms of location.

    In the interim, anyone looking for directional advice on specially adapted bikes in particular, take a look at Velovision, which is a quarterly cycling magazine celebrating cycle culture worldwide. It is a magazine for those passionate about cycling, and whose interest is in the practical applications of cycling, bikes as a transport solution, and cycling as a bridge between like-minded people across the world. 

    It contains authoritative technical material, intriguing stories of cycling people and communities from across the world, cycling art, history and literature, and of course the latest from the world of specialised cycle design: work bikes, recumbents, folders, family cycling and more.  Suppliers of such bikes are Wise Wheels and Quest 88, which is a UK based company specialising in the design, manufacture and supply of therapy, mobility and rehabilitation equipment for children and adults.  Also another comprehensive guide on the manufacturers of different adapted bikes can be found at Bentrider Online.

    Two more informative websites are Crank it up, which is a Yorkshire based voluntary organisation linked to Cycling Projects and Wheels for All - this link will take you to their picture gallery of the specially adapted bikes they use and Cobr which gives you a list of outlets for adapted bikes amongst many, many other cycling related things you might want to check out.  Also click here for Sustran's Disabled people and the National Cycle Network leaflet, which will open in a new window.  Furthermore, go to the Beginners Programmes on this website, to see what has been achieved by total novices wanting to learn.

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    Cycling into the Future: 15 Crazy Concept Bicycles

    This ... you have got to see., click on the logo or hyperlink ... everything you can think of cardboard bikes, bikes with square wheels., you really have to see this! 

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    11:20am Saturday 28th February 2009


     

    Gearing up for a new Study Plus course

    Released 18.45 24th February 2009
     
    During Reading Week, Truro College graciously hosted a National Standard (Cycling) Instructors course, which involved four HE students and a former lecturer from the college itself.      
                 

       
    Learning to do an 'M' check from the bike maintenance angle ~ Being briefed by lead instructor Martin Burrows, about positioning etc. when out .on road with students  ~  The end of four very intense days training

     

    Under Cycle Experience's auspices, Wendy Creed, a 1st year HE student studying Sports Coaching and Therapy was Assistant Instructor Trainer to Martin Burrows, Cycle Experience's Lead Instructor from just across the border in Devon.

    Those who trained and gained their provisional accreditation as National Standard Instructors were Bill Ward (1st year Outdoor Education student), Jon Williams (1st year Sports Science and Injury Management student), Rob Cockings (2nd year Personal Trainer student) and Mark Trebilcock (former Water Sports instructor).   Others included Karen Westbrook (Driving Instructor), Matt Wilmott (ASD teacher with Doubletrees School) and Steve Masi (owner and operator of Wheels on Wheels, a mobile cycle workshop that goes into schools).

    Nick Moon, Director of Cycle Experience said “It is great to be working with such a group of enthusiastic individuals and I am confident that they will all make excellent instructors. A very big thank you to Truro College for allowing us to use their facilities for the duration of the course and again to Wendy Creed for persevering to get this course scheduled. We look forward to working in Cornwall again.”

    The aim is that in the academic year of 2009 - 2010, it is hoped to offer a Study Plus Cycling course at the college, run by the students who are now professionally qualified and will go on to consolidate their training by working with Wendy, in schools within the county which will also form part of their Work Based Learning, again part of their respective degree course.

    Wendy said "We had a very intense but very fulfilling week.  The group dynamics were fantastic, all trainees just clicked and worked together really well.  They were all very appreciative of the fact they all bought very different skills to the table and just as we, the trainers were able to learn from them, so they also learned from each other.

    A classic example is that we want to include the foundation students in the Study Plus programme and Bill is particularly interested in doing so.  Now everyone has exchanged contacts and most of us are hoping to go and work with Matt for precisely this reason." 

    Within the next six months, the newly qualified instructors will be involved in running various courses at the end of which, they will be observed by senior instructors.  They will then, subject to delivering the courses effectively and achieving the required outcomes, become fully qualified National Standard Instructors.

    For further information or further courses, please contact Wendy Creed on 07762 493662 or go to www.rsct.org.uk

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