Only 1-in-3 kids get TfL bike training, despite government’s 100pc target

Only one-in-three children across London are getting formal training to ride bikes, according to latest TfL figures.

This is despite Government targets for all Year 6 pupils in primary schools to receive Level 2 training by the end of 2012.

Some areas like Tower Hamlets are doing well on training youngsters, while other boroughs like Redbridge have a poor showing.

A total of 3,130 men, women and children went through the training programme in 2010-11 in Tower Hamlets alone, more than any other London borough.

These included 2,525 schoolchildren—the third highest number anywhere in Greater London, behind Richmond with 2,576 and Bromley riding ahead with 3,108.

But this contrasts sharply with just 358 youngsters in Redbridge and 410 in Brent.

“These figures show children in some boroughs have cycle training, while others have very little,” said London Assembly member Jenny Jones. “If we want future generations to cycle, supporting bike training in schools is the place to start.”

There were 40,000 kids on bikes taking part in TfL’s training programme, with another 8,000 adults joining them.

TfL is urging local education authorities to adopt the national target for all 10 and 11-year-olds to have training.