Background to the introduction of Standards
An organiser that can meet the recognised standards of operation for any industry should be able to demonstrate to clients, funders, local authorities, insurers or health and safety managers that the scheme meets an acceptable best practice.
Over a five year period the cycle training sector has been adopting this principle to move from an environment where a myriad of disjointed programmes operate side by side to a situation where there is a common framework throughout the sector for the delivery of cyclist training for trips by road.
The most important component of this is the introduction of standards for instructors and much clearer guidance for clients on the contents of any course of training through the introduction of client standards. This is a sensitive area, and many believe it contradicts the perception of cycling as a free, relatively unregulated and enjoyable activity, but cycling activities are currently provided in a very disjointed manner. There is high quality provision by many individuals and groups, wholly unsatisfactory practice or in many cases no provision at all. Activity providers rely on long-term experience as the main criterion of acceptance. A serious incident has not yet occurred in the UK but if it did it will have a dramatic impact on confidence unless appropriate mechanisms are in place to support the sector
The development of standards.
A national cycle training scheme (Cycling Proficiency) was devised and proposed to government in 1936 by CTC as a way of reducing the growing incidence of road casualties in the period as road traffic grew rapidly. It was not until the late 1940s that the government adopted the proposal to be co-ordinated by safety charity RoSPA. Cycling Proficiency only trained cyclists – usually schoolchildren – to make manoeuvres in school playgrounds or away from traffic. The scheme ran nationally until 1974 but since then responsibility for cycle training for road safety purposes has been with local authorities, while a range of other programmes have appeared in other sectors like health.
In 2002 prior to the creation of the CTC Adult Cycle Training Scheme for the Department for Transport and the Department of Health CTC reviewed the national status of cycle training provision. The CTC review (here) made a series of recommendations to policy makers:
“The training and education of young people and potential adult cycle users to a national standard of cycle use is a strategic priority in achieving the goals of the National Cycling Strategy.”
Proposals subsequently made their way into national policy, being adopted first by the former National Cycling Strategy Board, and then elements were included in the government’s Action Plan on Cycling and Walking (June 2004) and the public health white paper “Choosing Health” (October 2004). The work plan for Cycling England, the new body charged with delivering the government’s cycling activities took forward these policy initiatives into its work plan and has subsequently announced a series of funding initiative to drive the adoption of the standard in England.
The National Standard has been developed by all the bodies involved in cycle training and is supported by the Government, local authorities, as well as cycling and road safety organisations. The new National Standard trains cyclists to be competent and confident using their bikes for all sorts of journeys.
Maintenance of Standards
The custodianship of National Standards has passed to a independent body called the Cycle Training Reference Group (CTRG) which has members from government, cycling, road safety and training delivery. Some government funding is given to CTRG to enable it to operate independently and its is recognised by the Department for Transport, Scottish Executive and Wales Assembly Government.
Support for Standards
CTC provides a national administration and support service for the sector “The National cycle Training Helpline” which is part funded by Cycling England.
