Young people in Cumbria are being urged to get on their bike this summer, for free cycling courses.
Three courses, with differing degrees of difficulty, are being organised throughout the county by Cumbria County Council's Better Ways to School programme.
The programme, run for the county council by Capita, aims to reduce unnecessary car journeys and improve safety along routes to and from school.
The courses on offer are:
Basic Bike Skills
Learn how to rid your bike safely
A two-day course running 9.30-12 noon on each day For 7 - 9 year olds
Cycling Proficiency
A week long course which ends with an opportunity to take the cycling proficiency test on the Friday For 9 - 11 year olds
The North Face Challenge
A week long course
Learn the ups and downs of real mountain biking with local trainers Cyclewise, and then head off to Grizedale Forest to compete in the North Face Challenge on the Friday.
For 12 - 14 year olds
All the courses take place during a week of the summer holidays, at various venues throughout the county:
23 - 27 July at Park View School, Barrow
30 July - 3 August at Workington Leisure Centre
6 - 10 August at Penrith Leisure Centre
13 - 17 August at Morton Manor School, Carlisle
20 - 24 August at Kendal Leisure Centre
Tueday 28 - 31 August at St Cuthbert's School in Wigton (the Monday is a Bank Holiday)
For more information and to book the courses, call (01228) 673062 or (01228) 673070 weekdays or email cycle.training@capita.co.uk
Parents and carers will need to sign a consent form for a young person to take part.
ENDS
Further information from Alison Lister, media team on 01228 606335
Notes
Better Ways to School is part of the national Safer Routes to School scheme. It aims to bring major benefits to the county, including:
- less congestion
- less pollution
- better standards of health and safety
- significant improvements in safety
the Better Ways to School website is at www.bwts.net