What is Cycle Right?
CYCLE RIGHT is the National Standard for Cycle Training and provides practical cycle safety and skills training to promote competent and confident cyclists. CYCLE RIGHT is an inclusive programme
CYCLE RIGHT is produced and supported by the Department of Transport, the Road Safety Authority and Cycling Ireland, with input from central and local agencies and other groups.
How is the Programme Structured?
CYCLE RIGHT is a cyclist road safety training programme designed to give cyclists the knowledge and skills to move safely through the road system, an environment shared with other road users.
CYCLE RIGHT is delivered over three stages with participants gaining skills and knowledge on a phased basis which prepares the individual to cycle in increasingly complex road scenarios. Ideally, individual sessions in each stage should be delivered at intervals (weekly) to allow sufficient time for practice in between. At Stage One, minimum delivery allowed is 4 two-hour sessions at weekly intervals.
As participants move through the stages of training, they take greater levels of responsibility for themselves on their bike on the road.
- At Stage One (8 hours), based at an off-road location such as a school or other centre, trainees take bicycle and road skills training, mixed with theoretical and Rules of the Road instruction.
At this stage on the road, trainees go on short, instructor-led cycles, guided and directed on correct positioning and decision-making. This stage is all about showing trainees how the techniques they have learned work on the road.
Ratio of trainer to trainee at Stage One is 1:30 for classroom work, 1:15 for yard-based practical work and 2:10 for on-road work.
- At Stage Two (3 hours approx. including the Cycle Right Online course), trainees have a more active role in the journey and decision-making in an instructor-facilitated format. Ratio of trainer to trainee is 2:10.
- By Stage Three (3 hours approx. including the Cycle Right Online course), trainees take the lead role on the journey, planning the route and making active decisions with regard to positioning and interaction with traffic in a complex environment. At this stage the instructor is in an accompanying role, assessing and giving feedback. Ratio of trainer to trainee is 2:8
Trainer training and registration and on-going internal and external monitoring are all part of a quality assurance framework designed to support CYCLE RIGHT, the National Standard.
What are the Goals of Cycle Right?
- To ensure best-practice cycle training is delivered across Ireland.
- To provide participants with the skills needed to move as cyclists in complex, changing, road environments.
- To train participants to apply dynamic thinking, assessing conditions and the environment on the road as they go through their journey.
What are the Benefits?
- CYCLE RIGHT will offer those taking part the skills to cycle confidently on the road network, from novice to competent cyclists.
- CYCLE RIGHT is delivered over three stages with participants gaining skills and knowledge on a phased basis, preparing them to cycle in increasingly complex road scenarios.
- All CYCLE RIGHT training is delivered by registered trainers.
- Training will be delivered to the CYCLE RIGHT programme with defined outcomes and according to trainee/trainer ratios which facilitate the learning process.
- Ongoing quality assurance and annual trainer registration will be part of the CYCLE RIGHT process to ensure consistent quality in programme delivery.
- CYCLE RIGHT offers a programme uniquely suited to the Irish environment, taking account of rural, suburban and urban conditions that are regularly encountered in close proximity.
What makes CYCLE RIGHT the National Standard and who is the registering/certifying Body?
While various forms of training have been on offer in Ireland for some years, CYCLE RIGHT brings together, for the first time, the expertise of bodies positioned to set out parameters and design a training programme to best fit the particular conditions in Ireland. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Road Safety Authority, Cycling Ireland, Sport Ireland Coaching, An Taisce Green Schools, An Garda Siochana and local authorities across the country have collaborated to give input to the programme which will be administered by Cycling Ireland as the registering body.