An evaluation of the effects of a school-based cycling education program on participation and safety

Cycling education programs for children could play a role in promoting both cycling participation and cycling safety. Cycling education programs for children exist in many countries – mostly in school settings – but few evaluations have used rigorous research designs to assess a range of outcomes. Safe Cycle is a program that incorporates typical content (bike handling skills, traffic manoeuvres) and also hazard and self-awareness training - an important inclusion for more comprehensive programs. To evaluate Safe Cycle online surveys were conducted at treatment schools (n=108) and (waitlist) control schools (n=28) before, immediately after, and approximately 14 weeks after, the program was delivered at treatment schools. Actual riding behaviour was measured naturalistically using instrumented research bicycles at treatment (n=6) and control schools (n=6). Delivery processes were considered via relevant survey questions and interviews with teachers (at treatment schools only). Because of issues with the control group, pre-program survey data were compared with immediate post-program, and with follow-up survey data, in the treatment group only. For the naturalistic observation data treatment schools were compared with control schools. Results provide some evidence that Safe Cycle increased participation in cycling, confidence in performing cycling skills, and knowledge relevant to cycling safety. The program appeared to address illusory invulnerability effectively. Nonetheless, there was no evidence that the program improved cycling safety behaviours or outcomes. The program was well-received by students and teachers alike, and results suggest strategies for optimising the beneficial effects of Safe Cycle.