Bikeability Impact Study
Client: Department for Transport
Bikeability is the Government's national cycle training programme predominantly for primary school children. The programme seeks to provide participants with practical cycling skills and an understanding of how to cycle on today's roads.
The Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned SQW (working in partnership with BPSR) to carry out an impact study of the Bikeability scheme. The overarching purpose of the study was to provide DfT and local stakeholders with an understanding of the impacts of the Bikeability scheme and to generate robust evidence that could be used to inform future investment decisions. SQW and BPSR developed a longitudinal survey design for the evaluation. This involved the administration of online surveys amongst Year 5 and Year 6 pupils and their parents/guardians (in both participating and comparison schools), to measure changes in pupils' and parents' behaviour and attitudes in relation to cycling activities.
The evaluation took place between September 2016 and August 2018. The final analysis was based on complete survey data from pupils in 186 schools, as well as survey data from parents/guardians. The evaluation found positive, and statistically significant, impacts associated with participating in at least Level 2 Bikeability training on a range of Year 6 pupil outcomes, including cycling rates since the start of term, whether pupils had cycled on the road in the past week, whether parents allowed their children to ride on roads, and pupils' knowledge of how to ride on roads safely.
The final study report can be found here.
