Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Accepted
DfT failing to meet Bikeability expansion commitment and active travel objectives.
Conclusion
In 2020, DfT announced it would expand its Bikeability programme and committed to offering cycling skills to all children in England. However, DfT has not yet completed its plans for expanding the Bikeability Programme and could not tell us when the commitment will be met. In 2022–23, 51% of children received road safety training through Bikeability by the end of primary school. This is much lower than the 80% required to help achieve DfT’s active travel objectives.71 61 ATE0003, Written evidence submitted by Local Government Association 62 C&AG’s Report, Figure 12, ATE0003; Written evidence submitted by Local Government Association 63 ATE0007, Written evidence submitted by Leicester City Council 64 ATE0003, Written evidence submitted by Local Government Association 65 ATE0012, Written evidence submitted by Liverpool John Moores University 66 Qq 73, 74 67 Qq 37, 39 68 About Us - The Bikeability Trust Organisation | Bikeability 69 ATE0002, Written evidence submitted by Bikeability Trust 70 Q 44 71 Qq 37-38, C&AG’s Report, para 2.10 18 Active travel in England
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and states the recommendation is implemented, providing a 2-year, £50 million funding package for the Bikeability programme until March 2025. A review has also been commissioned to improve the programme's efficiency and effectiveness.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 7.2 ATE announced a 2-year, £50 million funding package for Bikeability on 29 September 2023. This delivers the funding certainty it needs for the remainder of the current Spending Review period, i.e., until 31 March 2025. 7.3 Alongside this, ATE has commissioned a review of the Bikeability programme with the aim of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of management arrangements. The review will focus on the systems used to allocate, monitor, and drive delivery of cycling training and associated support activities, including bench marking against other comparable training programmes.