Best practice in community-based cycling proficiency training

Bicycle training and coaching provides adults with the skills to ride bicycles for transport, recreation and tourism.  A project was developed in 2004 to investigate the best practice in community-based cycle proficienct training, to enable more adults to cycle.  This project was managed as part of the National Cycling Strategy by the ABC and was funded by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.  The project was undertaken by the Bicycle Federation of Australia.

The project surveyed adult cycling proficiency training in Australia, reviewed international best-practice in cycling proficiency training, prepared an in-depth case study of an adult cycling proficiency training project, and interviewed sports administrators from AustSwim, Fitness Australia and the Australian Canoe Federation.

After reviewing cycling proficiency training models, the report recommended that an Australian program be based on the community franchise model. In this model, a national coordinating organisation would be established to develop and manage a curriculum, accredit cycling schools, and assist them with marketing. Cycling schools would be required to meet the national organisation's quality requirements and to promote the national cycling school brand.

This model is believed to offer the best potential to build demand for this type of training in communities around Australia, and to satisfy that demand. It is expected to create a commercially viable cycling training sector, with benefits for course providers, sponsors, participants, the community and government.

The Amy Gillett Foundation, the Bicycle Federation of Australia and Cycling Australia have now joined forces to create  AusCycle in 2008.  AusCycle will provide train-the-trainer and accreditation systems for adult cycle training.

The report is now available from the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, in PDF format, (719 KB)

Last Updated: 17 August 2010.