63% of people in Wales support free cycle training for school children, Cycling UK survey finds
- Offering free cycle training to every school child in Wales is one of 11 asks in Cycling UK’s Welsh election manifesto
- Support for this measure is strongest among young people, with 72% of 16- to 24-year-olds in favour
Cycling UK has found strong support for one of its policies that it has campaigned for in its Welsh election manifesto: free cycle training for school children.
A survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of the cycling charity asked people to what extent they would support the next Welsh Government funding a Wales-wide cycle programme that offers free cycling training to every school child. Overall, 63% said they would either strongly support or somewhat support such a scheme, while only 9% opposed it.
Support was strongest among younger people, with 72% of those aged 16-24 in favour, compared to 57% of those aged 65-plus. Levels of support were not significantly affected by either social class or location within Wales.
Gwenda Owen, Cycling UK engagement officer for Wales, commented: “This survey shows majority support, and minimal opposition, for the next Welsh Government to commit to offering free cycle training for every school child in Wales.
“Cycling UK has already seen that young people in particular support our aim of securing 10% of the total transport budget for active travel, but while investment in infrastructure is essential, it needs to be supported with revenue funding for cycle training and initiatives to nudge people's travel behaviours.
While investment in infrastructure is essential, it needs to be supported with revenue funding for cycle training and initiatives to nudge people's travel behaviours
Gwenda Owen, Cycling UK engagement officer for Wales
“All voters, but especially young voters, are giving politicians a clear message that they expect investment in cycle lanes and infrastructure, supported by measures to encourage and enable more people to cycle, to make cycling an option for everyone in Wales."
Securing a pledge to offer free cycle training to every school child in Wales is one of 11 asks for the next Welsh Government set out by Cycling UK in its manifesto for cycling, which was published in February ahead of the Senedd elections on 6 May.
The document sets out a vision to make Wales a nation where cycling is for everyone: where more everyday journeys are active travel journeys, where the countryside is more accessible, the air is cleaner and people’s health and wellbeing are prioritised.
Notes to editors
- Cycling UK, the UK’s cycling charity, imagines a world where the streets are free of congestion and the air is clean to breathe, where parents encourage their children to cycle to school and everyone shares the exhilaration of being in the saddle. For more than 140 years, we’ve been making our streets safer, opening up new traffic free routes and inspiring more people to cycle more often. www.cyclinguk.org
- The Cycling UK Welsh election manifesto can be downloaded at https://www.cyclinguk.org/sites/default/files/document/2021/02/cycling_uk_wales_may_elections_final.pdf and in Welsh at https://www.cyclinguk.org/sites/default/files/document/2021/02/cycling_uk_wales_may_elections_final_cymraeg.pdf.
- All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov plc. Total sample size was 1,194 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 01 and 06 April 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in Wales (aged 16+).
- Responses to the YouGov poll question “To what extent would you support or oppose the Welsh Government funding a Wales-wide cycle programme that offers free cycling training to every school child in Wales?” are broken down by age group below:
Age
16-24
25-49
50-64
65+
Weighted Sample
165
439
289
301
Unweighted Sample
140
432
302
320
%
%
%
%
Strongly support
38
32
30
25
Somewhat support
34
34
28
31
TOTAL SUPPORT
72
66
59
57
Neither support nor oppose
14
16
27
28
Somewhat oppose
5
5
5
6
Strongly oppose
1
4
5
5
TOTAL OPPOSE
5
9
9
11
Don't know
8
9
6
5
Press contact information
For more information, please contact the national Cycling UK press office. Due to the restrictions caused by the coronavirus outbreak, currently the main press office number (01483 238 315) is not being monitored. If you would like to speak to a member of the press office during working hours (0900 - 1700) please call 07880 424 912 or email publicity@cyclinguk.org. Out of hours, call 07786 320 713.
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