Croydon cycle training to restart after contract lapse

Croydon Council has assured residents that its Transport for London (TfL) funded cycle training programme has not been cancelled, following the sudden cessation of school road safety sessions. The halt in services occurred because the programme's contract with the council expired without renewal.

The Bikeability programme, which provides free cycle skills, confidence, and road safety training for children and adults across the borough, was impacted by the expired contract. Instructors discovered at the end of August that all booked sessions had been cancelled without prior warning. This left many instructors, some working in the gig economy, without work and facing uncertainty about the service's future.

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Impact on Learners and Instructors

Maeve Tomlinson, a full-time instructor, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she received an email stating all Croydon training would be withdrawn. "We felt demoralised, because we have all this work booked and then it’s suddenly wiped off," she said. "Its quite distressing if you’re relying on it."

The cancellations meant that schoolchildren missed out on vital training during the autumn term. Lizzi Holman, a mother from Coulsdon, expressed concern for her son who is due to start secondary school. She stated that without proper training, she did not feel he would be safe cycling to school. She also noted that Bikeability sessions in Croydon had a waiting list, meaning her son would likely be unable to access the training.

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Tom Bowell, Shadow Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment for Croydon's Labour opposition, criticised the council's handling of the situation. He highlighted that many residents found the free training to be highly beneficial for both themselves and their children, offering independence and increased road safety awareness.

Council Response and Future Plans

Croydon Council confirmed on October 12 that a new contract with Bikeability was in place and that a £77,000 funding package had recently been agreed with TfL. A council spokesperson stated that adult cycle training sessions were expected to resume shortly, while school-based training is scheduled to restart after the October half-term break.

The council acknowledged that the pause had been frustrating for those affected and expressed gratitude for patience and understanding while new arrangements were made. They anticipate residents and pupils will soon be able to participate in cycle training again.

However, some residents, including cyclist Alan Malarkey, have called for an apology from Mayor Jason Perry and the lead cabinet member. Mr Malarkey suggested that council systems should be reviewed to prevent similar occurrences in the future, emphasising the need for efficient contractual management of external funding.