School-run families are offered cycle training

Campaigners fear many parents and their children may be deterred from getting in the saddle due to a lack of confidence behind the handlebars.

So Cycling City York is offering parents and carers the chance to receive cycle training alongside their children at a heavily subsidised rate.

The aim is to encourage more families to make the journey to and from school by bike, and the sessions are being offered at several schools across York for just 6 instead of the usual 22.

Each session takes up to two hours and is conducted on a one-to-one basis, which means it can be tailored to the

individual needs of each family group.

Shaun Wilkinson, schools group lead for Cycling City York, said: "We know that one of the things that can deter families from taking their children to and from school by bike is a lack of confidence.

"So, through these sessions, we aim to equip parents and carers with the skills that they need to cycle safely with their children. If we can train parents or carers and their children together as a family group, they'll be more likely to cycle together in the future."

To find out more or to book a place, call Mr Wilkinson on 01904 551646 or email: [email protected]

Cycling City York is a community-led partnership project that will see 3.68m in Government funding used to get more people cyclingby 2011.

York is one of 12 locations in the UK to have been awarded Cycling Town or City status in 2008 and fought off competition from74 other local authorities to win the Westminster sponsorship.