Hull children get a safer start on two wheels

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-13 17:12 3 min read

A line of school children in uniforms and high-visibility vests riding bicycles outdoors together.

By demoduck.co.uk News Desk | 13 August 2026

Nearly nine in 10 Year 6 pupils in Hull received Bikeability cycle training last year, placing the city joint first in England for the reach of the programme.

Figures from The Bikeability Trust show that 2,958 children — 87% of Hull’s Year 6 cohort — completed either Level 1 or Level 2 training between April 2025 and March 2026. Hull shared the top position with Herefordshire Council.

For Hull families, the result means Bikeability has been offered across the city’s primary-school network, with catch-up support intended to help pupils who miss their planned session. It reflects how widely training reached Year 6 pupils, rather than proving that every child took part or measuring longer-term road-safety outcomes.

Hull’s 87% result in figures

The 87% rate covers Year 6 pupils who received Level 1 or Level 2 Bikeability training during the 2025-26 reporting period. The Bikeability Trust’s wider programme reached half a million children that year, making Hull one of the strongest local areas for Year 6 participation.

Hull has remained among England’s top 10 providers of children’s cycle training for four consecutive years. The joint-first result is therefore a measure of delivery reach in the latest year, not a guarantee that every individual pupil has received training.

Bikeability is intended to build practical cycling skills and confidence. Hull City Council is responsible for delivering the programme across the city, working with local training providers QTS and First Step Cycle.

Hull children get a safer start on two wheels

Every Hull primary school is part of the delivery plan

Hull City Council says training has been rolled out to all primary schools in the city. That gives schools a place in the programme, although the published figures still show that some Year 6 pupils did not complete Level 1 or Level 2 training during the reporting period.

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, the cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, said the skills support children’s health, independence and mobility, as well as the council’s wider road-safety work. The council’s stated aim is for every child to leave primary school with the knowledge and confidence to cycle safely.

Catch-up sessions are designed to reduce missed opportunities

The council says its approach includes catch-up sessions for pupils who miss training, alongside support for children in Hull who are home educated. These measures are intended to reduce cancellations and increase participation, rather than relying on a single school-session opportunity.

For parents, the most relevant next step is to ask their child’s primary school about its Bikeability arrangements or whether catch-up support is available if a session was missed. Home-educating families can also ask the council about the support it says it provides for children in Hull.

The council credits this wider delivery model, together with QTS and First Step Cycle, with helping sustain Hull’s high participation. Emily Cherry MBE, chief executive of The Bikeability Trust, said the city’s 87% rate showed the impact of giving children the opportunity to learn and keep cycling.

Source: Hull City Council News

Context & actions About this article

Source check How this was checked

This report uses Hull City Council's published account of Bikeability delivery figures supplied by The Bikeability Trust.

Checks

Checked the reported 87% Year 6 participation rate for April 2025 to March 2026.
Checked the stated total of 2,958 children receiving Level 1 or Level 2 training.
Checked Hull's joint-first position alongside Herefordshire Council.
Checked the council's stated provision for all primary schools, catch-up sessions and home...

Hull City Council News Check related coverage