All young people should undertake a cycling training course before cycling on the roads by themselves. Experts recommend a minimum age of ten years for on-road cycle training courses – below this age children are less likely to be able to successfully cope with the joint tasks of managing a bicycle and negotiating traffic situations. To find out more about cycling courses for your child, log on to www.bikeability.org.uk.

Top safe cycling tips

• Ensure children wear a cycle helmet
• Young cyclists should always wear light-coloured, fluorescent and reflective clothing to help them to be seen, as well as having lights on their bike
• Investigate the density of the traffic and any problems on the route before considering letting your child out unsupervised
• Before they set off, travel the route with them a few times so that they are confident and familiar with where they’ll be going. You may wish to cycle behind them for a few weeks to build their confidence
• Accidents do happen and it’s important to be prepared, so ensure your child is able to respond in an emergency. Make sure they know how to make a 999 call, are aware of their home telephone number and know their own address
• There is safety in numbers, so where possible ensure your child has a cycling ‘buddy’ whenever they’re out, such as a friend or older sibling
• As well as being road safe, it’s a good idea to ensure your child knows how to respond to other risks – meeting strangers or getting lost, for example. Perhaps give them a mobile phone so they can get in touch if they run into trouble
• If your child is cycling to a friend’s house, let another adult know and give them an idea of when they can expect your child to arrive