Free Cycle Training in Oxford

I saw this and thought it might be useful to HarBUG members or their friends in Oxford. I’ve heard good things about bikeability training.

Free cycle training for adults in Oxford

With spring just around the corner it’s a great time to get out on your bike and enjoy the city. Oxford City Council is partnering with Oxfordshire County Council to provide free cycle training for adults in Oxford to increase cycle confidence on the road.

Training in Bikeability Levels 1 and 2 is being offered in various locations across the city and is open to all local adult residents free of charge. Bikeability training is fun and informative and gives you the skills and confidence to cycle in modern road conditions. Levels 1 and 2 are ideal for nervous cyclists wanting to gain confidence.
Depending on your previous experience you will learn to control and master your bike in an environment away from cars or traffic and then get out on the roads in real traffic situations in Oxford.
Bikeability training gives you a real cycling experience so that you are able to deal with traffic on short journeys such as cycling to work.
The FREE cycle training sessions will take place at (with person to contact to book below):

19 March – South Oxford Community Centre, Lake Street – 9am-12.30pm
Contact – 01865 242666 or enquiries@southoxford.org

28 March – Cutteslowe Community Centre, Wren Road – 9am-12.30pm
Contact – 01865 311172 or cutteslowecca@gmail.com

16 April – West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Road – 9am- 12.30pm
Contact – 01865 245761 or westoxfordcc@gmail.com

26 March – Rose Hill Recreation Field, off Ashhurst Way – 9am-12.00pm
15 April – Cutteslowe Community Centre, Wren Road – 9am-12.30pm
19 April – South Oxford, Bertie Place – 9am-12.30pm
29 April – Cowley Marsh, off Marsh Road – 9am-12.30pm
30 April – West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Road – 9am-12pm
Contact DHaynes@oxford.gov.uk or ring 01865 252566

Booking is essential as places are limited. These free courses are expected to be very popular so please check the contact under your required session and book your place now to avoid disappointment.

All equipment will be provided so you just need your bike and a helmet. Routine bike checks will also be included as part of the training and an initial assessment of cycling experience and training will be used to adapt the course to your needs.

Oxford City Council will also be organising some training for local women interested in organising fun, social bike rides for other women in Oxford. This will be part of British Cycling’s Breeze programme which aims to help thousands more women feel confident and comfortable about going on a bike ride.

Breeze is the biggest programme ever to get more women into riding bikes for fun as the rides go at a speed that suits everyone and often start or finish at a cafe so everyone can have a drink and a chat! To find out more or to register your interest please contact Vicki Galvin, GO Active Coordinator on 01865 252720 or vgalvin@oxford.gov.uk

Both Bikeability and Breeze training are part of the wider Oxford Cycle City initiative being led by the City Council which aims to increase cycling and improve the cycling experience in Oxford.

To find out more information on Bikeability Training and levels visit http://www.dft.gov.uk/bikeability