According to the UK's Daily Telegraph, several organizations including the UK Roads Transport Association, the UK Cycling Association, and the UK Health Forum have recently urged the government to make cycling a compulsory part of primary school physical education, stating it should be given the same importance as swimming. Last week, the British government just concluded consultations on reforms to the primary school curriculum for children aged 5 to 14.
It has been reported that in response to the widespread issue of childhood obesity, UK government officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of high-quality physical education and have called on primary and secondary schools to prioritize competitive sports education. The new curriculum to be implemented in 2014 mandates that children should be able to swim at least 25 meters by age 11 and learn competitive sports such as football, netball, cricket, hockey, basketball, badminton, and tennis. The new curriculum plan also advocates developing students' flexibility, strength, skills, control, and balance through gymnastics, athletics, and dance.
However, this curriculum plan does not mention cycling, which critics say is a major oversight in policy-making. A joint letter signed by 16 experts from the aforementioned sports associations pointed out that, like swimming, being able to ride a bike safely and risk-free on the road is an essential life skill that contributes to forming a positive and healthy lifestyle for children and adolescents. They called on schools to introduce a “cycling program,” suggesting cycling education should start from age 5, and by the time students finish primary school, they should be able to handle bicycles off-road, and by age 14, acquire local riding skills, including road recognition and orientation, communication with motor vehicle drivers, and a basic understanding of highway rules.
David Dansky, an advocate of the “Cycling Program,” said that with children becoming increasingly obese and accustomed to sedentary lifestyles, cycling provides the necessary daily exercise and also ensures they can commute to school safely.