Cycle Training

Financial Times - 11th July 1999

On course for big city safety

Vicky Carlstrand meets a former software specialist with a passion for cycle training.

IT'S a grey day in Crystal Palace, south London, and a sight guaranteed to stop the traffic comes into view. A line of 12 cyclists, adults and children in dayglo vests, is winding along the road.
They signal pull over and stop together. Then they pull their bicycles off the road and lean them neatly against a wall.
"What's going on?" asks a passer-by.
"Cycle Training," replies the leader of the group, hunting in his pockets to hand her a leaflet: "On the road."
This scheme was conceived and developed by Simeon Bamford. Once a software developer, he abandoned that field for the low-tech world of bicycles. He has a youthful enthusiasm for cycling combined with a mature awareness of the difficulties facing those using bicycles on the road.
Cycling, he explains, is difficult and requires competence. "No one would expect a driver to become competent without learning on the roads. Why isn't that training available to a cyclist?" His newly founded business, Cycle Training, is an attempt to fill that gap and to encourage more people to treat their bicycles as a routine form of transport.
Bamford is dismissive of schemes that try to separate cyclists from other road users. There is simply not enough road space, he says. "Cyclists should be on the road and car speed should be reduced," he declares, but emphasises that cyclists must know how to use the roads.
Ian Martin, manager of Southwark council's Health Promotion Unit, is a keen supporter of Bamford's thinking. Southwark recently stopped providing traditional cycling proficiency training for schoolchildren, which took place exclusively off the road. Instead it is offering local schools funding to take up Bamford's scheme.
Martin says he was never convinced that off-road training was adequate and feels the council will get better value from this scheme. "By next year we will have more kids trained to a higher standard," he says. Martin describes on-road training as "an incredibly difficult thing to do, especially in inner London", yet he also considers the risks during training are minimal. ...
The lesson in Crystal Palace continues. This is a parent and child scheme with two 3 1/2 hour sessions on consecutive Saturdays. The four adults and five children have all had their bikes checked for roadworthiness by the two trainers. Most passed with only minor adjustments to gears or brakes but one girl was using her bike with the front wheel quick-release mechanism in the wrong position, an error that could cause a serious accident. No trainee is taken on the roads until basic manoeuvres have been perfected: starting, stopping, signalling, looking behind and using the gears. It is quickly apparent that even grown-ups can wobble when concentrating on doing everything right. Bamford is indefatigable, running alongside to check that everyone is in the right gear, demonstrating emergency stops, showing the clear and correct way to signal.
Things become more serious as they set off on carefully selected roads, where manoeuvres such as passing parked cars, turning right and handling crossroads can be practised for real.
Bamford selects his words carefully. He does not describe roads or cars as dangerous; it is other road users who may be dangerous. He emphasises the importance of being visible, signalling clearly before you do anything, and being able to hold your own position on the road, assertively but without aggression.
At the end of the session adults and children are pleased with what they've learned and all are keen to use their bicycles more often.
Sophie would love to ride to school but there is nowhere for her to leave her bike. Daniel wants to be able to cycle "everywhere".
His mother admits that with four children it's too difficult to find time to accompany them on the road.
Bamford is pleased with the day's session. All the trainees are keen to attend the second day and will probably help spread news of the courses among their friends.
Bamford's business is slowly taking off and with 20 trainers to call on he is confident he can meet demands anywhere in London for individuals or groups. His eyes light up when asked about his plans for the future.
"How about a national franchise for cycle training?" is the immediate rhetorical reply. He has further ideas for forging a maintained fleet of bicycles along with training for employees.
His dedication to cycling is boundless and if he has his way there will be many more cyclists out on the roads soon.