How can I become a Bikeability Scotland instructor?
Please click here to find out about training pathways.
I've qualified as an instructor - how do I go about setting up Bikeability Scotland training sessions?
If you're a member of staff at a school, please follow the instructions here.
If you're a volunteer who has signed up to deliver training at a particular school, please contact them to set dates for the training.
If you're a volunteer who isn't attached to a particular school, please contact your local authority co-ordinator and ask them to match you with schools nearby that are looking for instructors. You can find your local co-ordinator's contact details here.
Where can I order resources for the training?
Please ask either the school or your local co-ordinator to organise the resources you need for your session. You can access electronic copies of the resources here.
What type of bikes can trainees use during training?
The most important thing is to ensure that the pupils' bikes are safe and the right size for them. Before the training takes place, make sure to ask parents that they check over their child's bike, including pumping up the tyres and adjusting the saddle to the right height. For Bikeability Scotland levels 2 and 3 the bicycle must be in road-worthy condition with an independent front and rear brake.
Having gears on a bike can be a real advantage for completing Bikeability Scotland sessions, but is not essential. The instructor leading the Bikeability Scotland session will have the final say on whether each pupil's bike is safe for them to complete the training on.
The Highway Code states that bikes must use lit front and rear lights and have a red rear reflector at night. Although Bikeability Scotland training usually takes place during daylight, please remember that trainees may still be cycling to/from school in darkness and so they should be reminded of this requirement. It is also recommended that bikes are fitted with a front white reflector, and that lights are used for training taking place in poor weather conditions. You can read the Highway Code's requirements for bicycles here and here.
If my trainees don't have access to bikes, are they able to borrow some?
Contact your local authority co-ordinator to see if they have any bikes that the school could borrow (you can find their contact details here). Unfortunately though it may be the case that pupils without bikes aren't able to take part.
Am I allowed to fix or adjust trainees' bikes?
Some local authorities' policies and insurance prohibit instructors from making any adjustments to trainees' bikes (including adjusting seat heights), unless they have the appropriate qualifications. Please check the policy in your area with your local authority co-ordinator.
How many instructors should there be to deliver a training session?
- For level 1, there should be 1 instructor for every 15 pupils.
- For level 2, there should be 1 instructor for every 8 pupils; however a minimum of 2 instructors is required at all times.
- For level 3, there should be 2 instructors for every 6 pupils.
Many instructors have other people helping out with their sessions, who aren't themselves qualified as instructors (e.g. anyone helping out with marshalling, or helping trainees to get their bikes/helmets ready). Untrained assistants cannot be counted as instructors for the purposes of meeting these ratio requirements.
Where can I get a copy of my instructor certificate?
Please log into the Cycling Scotland database here to access your certificate. Please note that you are required to fill out an evaluation of your training course before being issued your certificate. It is essential that we gather feedback from participants so that we can continually improve our training courses and address any concerns or training needs.
What other cycling activities can I encourage trainees to take part in?
Bikeability Scotland training is a great way of getting children interested in cycling, and we want to encourage them to continue cycling by signposting them to other activities where possible. Please see a list of activities here for ideas.
Some of my trainees have additional support needs. Where should I go for advice on how to meet these needs during training?
All pupils with additional support needs should be assessed on an individual basis by the instructor prior to attending training. It will depend on their disability and the effect of this on their ability to cycle. It may be a simple case of asking for extra volunteer support. You could also investigate using a specialist bike in order for the pupil to take part in the training. If you have any concerns, assess the trainee's needs by speaking to the pupil, their parent/guardian, the local authority co-ordinator and anyone else relevant who's involved in supporting the pupil. The Department for Transport has produced a good practice guide for disability cycle training which can be accessed here.
More information on inclusive Bikeability Scotland training can be found here.
I need more training and support to help me deliver Bikeability Scotland training sessions. Where should I go?
Your local authority co-ordinator may be able to offer you further training, such as bicycle maintenance courses, first aid or instructor mentoring, whereby an experienced instructor will attend your training sessions to provide advice and support, until you feel confident delivering the training independently. You could also ask if you could shadow some sessions before you deliver one yourself.
If this support isn't available from your local authority, or if there is any additional support you'd like, please contact us at bikeability@cycling.scot.
I'd like to deliver more cycle training or aim for a higher instructor qualification. What are my options?
Please click here to find out about the Cycling Scotland training pathways, including other qualifications you can take in order to deliver adult cycle training.
Where can I make a comment, suggestion or complaint about Bikeability Scotland?
We welcome feedback to help us continually improve Bikeability Scotland.
Please contact either the school or local authority co-ordinator for anything that falls under their remit, which includes the day-to-day coordination of Bikeability Scotland training.
Please contact us at bikeability@cycling.scot to get in touch with anything related to the content of the resources, instructor training and support, using the Cycling Scotland database, and anything else which you feel is relevant.
Where can I find guidelines and good practice in child protection?
Here are some link for futher information:
Where can I find Cycling Scotland's training policy?
What is the Quality Assurance process?
Cycling Scotland's Quality Assurance process for training is based on a supportive model and it recognises that however good training may be, there is always scope for improvement.
In 2019/20, 5% of all training being delivered by those holding Cycling Scotland instructor qualifications will be observed. The process aims to:
- Support those involved in delivery
- Ensure minimum standards are met
- Ensure consistency of training standards
- Maintain and raise delivery standards.
What is the National Standard?
Find out what the National Standard is here.
How do I deliver training in a non-school setting?
While the vast majority of Bikeability Scotland training is delivered in schools, there are organisations and instructors delivering the training in other settings, helping to get both children and adults cycling.
Most of the information in this 'instructors' section is equally applicable to non-school settings, but if you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact us.
If you want to train up as an instructor to deliver Bikeability Scotland in a non-school setting, you can book yourself onto a training course here. If you're going to be delivering the training to adults, there will usually be a cost associated with training as an instructor. If you'll be delivering to children, you may be able to get a funded place on a course. Please contact us directly at bikeability@cycling.scot to discuss this.
Please also contact us directly if you need any resources for your training.
If you're delivering training to adults, there is another Cycling Scotland training course called Adult Cycle Training which might be suitable. You can find out more about this here, and contact bikeability@cycling.scot