Bikeability: Cycling for the nation

The Bikeability Trust reveals that in 2024–25 it delivered: 2.8m hours of cycling for school-aged children across England, c. £1m funding to help break down barriers to cycling, and 4,700+ cycles for schools and training providers.

In its new report, The Bikeability Trust reveals 500,000 training places were booked in England in 2024–25, with children cycling for almost three million hours doing Bikeability. The Trust will have trained six million children before the end of 2025, making it official: children love to cycle. 

Beyond the School Gates outlines how Bikeability cycle training figures and the Trust’s wider projects are delivering benefits for the nation that closely align with Government goals: 

• 10 Year Health Plan: with Get Cycling in Schools, we train teachers and equip schools to help embed cycling into the school day. In 2024-25, over 21,000 children benefitted.

• Upcoming Road Safety Strategy: increased Bikeability Level 2 training is statistically associated with fewer people being killed and seriously injured (KSI) on the road.

• New Mayoral Active Travel Network: after completing Bikeability, children were five times more likely to express an intention to cycle.

• 50% of all short journeys walked, wheeled or cycled by 2030: riders who do Bikeability Level 2 in Years 5–6 are more likely to walk or cycle in future.

The Bikeability Trust Chief Executive Emily Cherry said: “As we approach almost six million children trained, it’s clear we’re delivering on our mission to activate a nation of cyclists. This year’s report shows how we’re increasing access to cycles for those one in four children who still don’t have their own, and inspiring children with skills and confidence for a lifetime.”    

Active Travel England National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman CBE said: “Cycling is for every child, which is why inclusion is at the heart of what Bikeability does. And why ATE is committed to working with councils and combined authorities to create safe, accessible walking, wheeling and cycling routes for children to use and enjoy for decades to come.”  

Minister for Local Transport Simon Lightwood said: “Learning to ride a bike is a gateway to independence, confidence, and freedom for young people. I’m incredibly proud of the work the Bikeability Trust does, ensuring every child feels safe, supported, and empowered as they learn to ride.  

“We’re also putting young people at the heart of our Active Travel mission, delivering a new Active Travel Junior Inspectors scheme which allows children to shape walking and cycling routes. This, alongside our £300m investment, will help councils make smarter decisions, improve local infrastructure, and support our Plan for Change by boosting local economies and easing pressure on the NHS.” 

For key 2024–25 delivery statistics, visit: Funding and Delivery – About Us | Bikeability 

For data insight, read our data report: Monitoring and Evaluation – June 2025 

Key data takeaways from the data report include: 

• 93% of riders report feeling more confident cycling on roads after completing Bikeability Level 2 

• 96% of parents are likely to encourage their child to cycle following Bikeability Level 2 training  

• In 2024-25, approximately 678 metric tons of CO2 equivalent was saved by travelling actively on Bikeability training days  

• Primary school children can achieve around half of their recommended daily physical activity just by cycling to and from school 

Top-performing Local Authorities, who led the charge in training pupils in 2024-25: 

• Hull City Council 

• Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council 

• Rutland County Council 

• Lancashire County Council 

• Plymouth City Council 

• North East Lincolnshire Council 

• Kirklees Council 

• North Lincolnshire Council 

• Wakefield Metropolitan District Council 

• Shropshire Council 

With a special mention to three areas that grew the most since last year: Rutland, Trafford and Halton councils all increased the number of children reached by over 25% in just one year.