Learn to cycle safely this Easter

Free cycling courses are on offer in Pencoed this Easter to help young cyclists get on their bikes safely.

Organised by Bridgend County Borough Council in partnership with ParkLives, Balanceability sessions for children aged three to six will be held at Pencoed Comprehensive on Monday 15 April (1pm – 2pm) and Tuesday 16 April (12pm – 1pm).

Older children aged from eight upwards will get the chance to develop their skills and learn safe habits at sessions which will also be held at the secondary school on Monday 15 April (10am – 11am or 11am – 12pm) as well as Wednesday 17 April (9:30am – 10:30am or 10:30am – 11:30am). Adults are also welcome to attend those sessions too.

Places need to be booked in advance by calling the council’s Active Bridgend team on 01656 815215.

The sessions are the latest in a series of initiatives to promote active travel in Pencoed. During the last month, a group of teachers from four local schools have become cycle leaders to help encourage safe cycling among their pupils and enable them to travel in an active way between school sites.

Staff from Pencoed Primary School, Croesty Primary School, Coychurch Primary School and Pencoed Comprehensive School all completed the training which was provided by British Cycling thanks to a joint project between Sustrans Cymru, Bridgend County Borough Council and Pencoed Town Council.

A lot of investment has been put into Pencoed’s active travel infrastructure in recent years, and these initiatives will help to encourage even more children to take an active form of travel for their daily journey to and from school.

It’s vital for children to be able to cycle safely. The activities provided by these teachers, and the Easter sessions that will be held at Pencoed Comprehensive School, all complement the national standards cycling training which we already offer to year six pupils across the whole of the county borough.

Councillor Richard Young, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities