Via’s Bikeability team has received a donation of 36 new bicycles valued at £12,000 from the Bikeability Trust, a charity and leading authority on cycling education according to a statement published by Nottinghamshire County Council.
Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) works in partnership with Via’s Bikeability team and over the last year, over 10,500 adults and young children have been trained in 211 schools across the county including Gedling borough residents and students.
The Bikeability programme is renowned for its inclusivity and impact and is designed to cater to individuals of all ages and abilities, to equip them with the skills to cycle safely and the donation will enhance the team’s capacity to deliver crucial cycling training across Nottinghamshire.
Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, expressed his support for the initiative and said, “The Bikeability programme has made a significant impact on schools throughout Nottinghamshire. We have received positive feedback from participating schools that highlight the programme’s effectiveness in imparting essential cycling skills to children and adults of all abilities.”
Via’s Bikeability Team was lauded for their remarkable successes at an end-of-year celebration on 21 December at Via’s Bilsthorpe Depot. Emily Cherry, Chief Executive of the Bikeability Trust, expressed her gratitude for their efforts in a congratulatory video and further said, “My mission, through Bikeability training, is to get more people cycling more often and in a safer manner, and the dedicated Via Bikeability team is doing exactly that. Moreover, I want to make sure that by the end of primary school, every child has the confidence, knowledge and the skill to cycle.”
“The donation of these 36 bicycles will act as the driving force to broaden the team’s reach by giving them the resources to cater for more children across Nottinghamshire.”
The impact of the Bikeability training programme in Nottinghamshire has been highlighted by the positive feedback received from several schools in the region. Spectrum Wasp Group, a charity that supports parents with children and young people on the autistic spectrum with disabilities, special and additional needs and Abbey Primary School in Mansfield, are among the organisations that have expressed their appreciation for the programme’s effectiveness and its impact on their students.
Spectrum Wasp Group provided glowing feedback on the programme which stated, “It was well organised with a structured approach and a team that effectively supported our children with special needs. By the end of the session, children who had never ridden a bike gained enough confidence to ride a bike with pedals. The parents were overwhelmed with emotion; one parent bought a bike immediately as a result of this.”
Bikeability training for your school can be organised by contacting Via’s Road Safety Team at cyclesafety@viaem.co.uk or by calling 0115 977 4375.
The full statement from Nottinghamshire County Council is available HERE.
