Generation Cycle: a year of impact
In 2025–26, the Bikeability cycle training programme reached an all-time total of 6 million places delivered, boosting national active travel ambitions
August 12, 2026
The Bikeability Trust’s impact report 2025–26 makes the case for cycle training for all ages, stages and communities, supporting the government’s bold new target for 60% of children aged 5–16 to usually cycle or walk to school by 2035.
The Bikeability Trust, the charitable incorporated organisation that manages, develops and promotes the Bikeability programme on behalf of the Department for Transport, is today publishing its latest impact report, Generation Cycle.
Bikeability is the flagship national cycle training programme for schoolchildren, funded by Active Travel England. In 2025–26, the Trust managed delivery of 460,465 Bikeability places across the country (excluding London) and, through its own Get Cycling in Schools programme, which upskills teaching staff to deliver early cycle training, delivered an additional 64,080 places for a total of 524,545 children trained.
Generation Cycle highlights include:
- 595 tonnes CO2e saved on Bikeability daysii through 460,465 places attended
- £78 million funding commitment over the next three years for the programme from Active Travel England
- Access to 6,086 cycles created through programmes & partnerships: up 27% YoY
- 93% of riders feel more confident cycling on roads after Bikeability Level 2
“Active Travel England’s goal is to create places that ensure everyone, especially children, has safe, accessible choices to walk, wheel and cycle. But building safer streets is only part of the answer – children need the skills and confidence to use them. Learning to cycle can shape how they travel, how active they are, and how connected they feel to their communities for years to come.”
National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman CBE
“Generation Cycle shows what happens when children are given the chance to learn, ride and thrive. In 2025–26, the Bikeability programme gave hundreds of thousands of children the skills and confidence to cycle, while the Trust’s wider work helped more schools, families and communities make active travel part of everyday life. We’re proud to be turning ambition into action.”
Chief Executive of The Bikeability Trust Emily Cherry MBE
Bikeability – converting ambition into active travel
The report comes hot on the wheels of the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which sets out targets for 55% of short journeys in towns and cities to be walked or cycled by 2035, and 60% of children aged 5 to 16 to usually walk or cycle to school by 2035. In 2025–26, the Trust helped turn those ambitions into reality through activity including:
- Bike Bus Leader Guide – this free offer including expert resources, training, and Velo 2 devices from our partner Beeline helped local communities set up their own bike buses
- Cycle to School Week – the Trust’s annual active travel participation campaign mobilised 427,596 pledges to pedal from children, schools and families nationwide.
- Get Cycling in Schools – our innovation expanded into London to deliver 64,080 places nationwide and supply schools with 5,106 balance bikes and helmets
Cycle training to support healthy habits for a lifetime
This year, the Trust also expanded its research to show how Bikeability backs Government goals to prevent 1 million GP appointments a year by 2030 through increased cycling and walking. Our January 2026 Health Policy Report demonstrated that Bikeability plays a vital role in promoting health and wellbeing. Before Bikeability training, 4% of children cycled to school 1–3 times a week; after Level 2, 23% of children intended to cycle to school 1–3 times a week.
