Bikeability Plus wins Cycle Planning Award

Outspoken Training won the Best Behaviour Change award at the Cycle Planning Awards for their work in transforming how families in Peterborough get to and from school.

The overall aim of the project is to help build a stronger cycling culture within five primary schools and to encourage children, parents and teachers to cycle more often. In just six weeks there was a 263 percent increase with more than 200 more children cycling to school each day.

Philip Darnton, Executive Director of the Bicycle Association and chair of the judging panel said:

“Bikeability Plus turns basic cycle lessons into a real change in behaviour, helping to give youngsters a lasting skill for life. The project was very well-structured, and set clear targets, which it brilliantly exceeded. What’s more it created 114 ‘young mechanics’- an absolutely key part of being able to ride your bike well, and safely.”

Rob King, director of Outspoken Training, said:

“To have transformed the cycling culture of a few schools in such a short period of time is amazing. We were particularly proud of our team of staff who made this happen through a whole host of exciting activities and challenges.”

Bikeability Plus funding was taken up by Peterborough City Council and was one of a number of pilot programmes run by the Department for Transport. Despite a small budget, the scheme had a huge impact, with an average of 29 percent children cycling to school – fifteen times the national average.