SKILLING UP THE NATION’S KIDS – HALFORDS REVEALS LACK OF CYCLING KNOWLEDGE

• 41% of adults have poor or very poor bike maintenance know-how

• 15% lack cycle safety knowledge

• 37% of parents think cycle safety should be covered in schools

PARENTS want schools to take a hand in educating kids on cycling safety, Halfords reveals today, as a campaign from British Cycling calls for the government to pledge funds to support cycling and education in the UK.

The research shows 41% of adults lack basic bike maintenance skills such as puncture repair or adjusting brakes and more crucially, 15% claim to have little knowledge when it comes to cycle safety. This skills gap sees more than a third of parents (33%) calling for cycling safety to be covered in schools, and over 80% arguing it should be added to the National Curriculum so that the next generation is skilled up to cycle competently, confidently and proficiently.

The research of more than 4,500 adults commissioned by Halfords also reveals 67% of parents believe the government could do more in this area, as the Olympic legacy and Tour de France continue to increase cycling’s popularity.

A third of parents (33%) claim their children’s schools do not offer Bikeability – the cycling proficiency test intended to give skills and confidence or riding on modern roads, and Halfords’ research shows mums, dads and grandparents are fearful of their kids cycling on modern roads - 42% claim their children don’t cycle to school because the roads are too dangerous.

Halfords Senior Communications Manager Emma Thomas said: “Our research shows there is a real knowledge gap when it comes to cycling safety and maintenance. Halfords has helped almost 45,000 children learn the basics over the past year and in school, school holiday and community workshops we’re helping as many children as possible stay safe on their bikes, but there are still too many cyclists without proper knowledge of cycling safety.”

Halfords colleagues taught 12,000 children from 455 stores about bike maintenance and safety at Gear Up! workshops held in June, and 2,000 Cubs attended in-store bike workshops as part of their cyclists activity badge.

Furthermore, more than 30,000 children have taken part in Halfords free kids bike clubs, with 10,000 attending last Easter holidays – double the number on the previous year.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact Halfords@z-pr.com or 020 7896 3404

Halfords cycles

With over 100 years’ experience of selling cycles, Halfords are the UK's number one bike specialist. At Halfords, we understand that selling a bike is more than providing it in a box. That is why we offer free* bike build at your local Halfords store even if you buy online and have your bike delivered to your door. We'll also fit free of charge any accessories you've bought at the same time as your bike, whether bought online or in store. We also offer a six-week free health check on your bike.

Halfords

The Group is the UK's leading retailer of automotive, leisure and cycling products and through Halfords Autocentres also one of the UK's leading independent car servicing and repair operator. Halfords customers shop at more than 460 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland and at halfords.com for pick-up at their local store or direct home delivery. Halfords Autocentres operates from more than 280 sites nationally and offers motorists dealership-quality MOTs, repairs and car servicing at affordable prices.

Halfords employs approximately 12,000 staff and sells around 10,000 product lines in stores, increasing to around 16,000 lines online. The product offering encompasses significant ranges in car parts, cycles, in-car technology, child seats, roof boxes, outdoor leisure and camping equipment.

Halfords own brands include the in-store Bikehut department, for cycles and cycling accessories, Apollo and Carrera cycles and exclusive UK distribution rights of the premium-ranged Boardman cycles and accessories.

In outdoor leisure, we sell a premium range of camping equipment, branded URBAN Escape. Halfords offers customers expert advice and a fitting service called "wefit" for car parts, child seats, satellite navigation and in-car entertainment systems, and a "werepair" service for cycles.

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