Effects of Cycle Skills Training on Cycling-Related

Confidence, Habits, Knowledge and Practical Skills in

Adolescent Girls

Chiew Ching Kek BA1, Tessa Pocock BPhEd(Hons)1, Siobhan McArthur1, Dana Lawrie BSc1,

Charlotte Flaherty BCom2, Christina Ergler PhD3, Sandra Mandic PhD1.

28 August 2017

Background – Cycling in Adolescents

Traffic Safety

Parents’ and

Adolescents’

Perceptions

VS

Cycling for

Transportation

Tim is a

good

cyclist!

Cycle to

school?

Hmm…

Why Cycle Skills Training (CST) in

Adolescents?

CST in

Children

CST in

Adolescents

Positive

attitudes

towards

CST

Existing CST

programmes

Effectiveness of

CST in childrenPerceive

CST to

cycle safety

in traffic

Effects of CST have

not been examined

Purpose

Effects of cycle skills training in New Zealand

adolescent girls

On cycling-related

Confidence

Habits

Knowledge

Lightly trafficked

(Grade 2)

Practical skills

Traffic-free

(Grade 1)

Study Design

Cycle Skills Training in

Adolescent Girls

(1 to 6 weeks)

Practical skills

assessment

(during training)

• Cycling-related

knowledge

• Cycling

confidence and

behaviours

Grade 1

Fundamental

Grade 2 Advanced

Pre-

training

survey

Post-

training

survey8-10 min

Signed

consents

Surveys: Standard NZTA Questions

Pre-training

survey

Post-

training

survey

Demographics

Travel to school

Cycling confidence level

Cycle road safety

Satisfaction with cycle skills

training

Surveys: Research-Specific Questions

Pre-

training

survey

Post-

training

survey

Family resources (vehicle/bike ownership;

bike equipment)

Estimated time to cycle to school

Habits of cycling for recreation,

transportation and sport

Confidence, ability, intention, support &

safety of cycling to school

Effects of cycle skills training on

improving road safety skills

Effects of cycle skills training on

improving practical cycling skills

Grade 1 and 2 Practical Assessment

Grade 1 Practical Skills (Fundamental)

• Carry out a bike and helmet check

• Legal requirements for bicycles and safety equipment

• Get on and off, start off the bike without help

• Stop quickly with control

• Steer the bike and manoeuvre safely to avoid objects

• Look behind, signal - stop, right, and left

• Use their gears

Grade 2 Practical Skills (Advanced)

• Start and stop from side of road in correct position

• Ride in a safe position from kerb

• Pass a parked vehicle

At an uncontrolled and controlled intersection:

• Turn left, right and travel straight

Adolescents Participating in CST

Adolescents

n=126

n %

Age (years) 13.8 ± 0.7

Gender

Boys 0 0.0%

Girls 126 100.0%

Secondary Schools

Queens High School 115 91.3%

Bayfield High School 11 8.7%

School year [n(%)]

Year 9 55 43.7%

Year 10 57 45.2%

Year 11 14 11.1%

Minimal effects on cycling behaviour

Pre-training Post-training p-value

n=126 n=126

How often do you ride your

bike?n % n %

At least once a week 10 7.9% 7 5.6%

Every day 3 2.4% 4 3.2% <0.001

Have you ever ridden a bike on

the road

Yes 98 77.8% 105 86.8% <0.001

Adolescents in CST: Cycling Behaviours

Adolescents in CST: Cycling Habits

Minimal effect on cycling to school habits

ResultsEffects of CST in Adolescents:

Cycling Confidence

Pre

-Tra

inin

gP

ost-

Tra

inin

g

Improved confidence to cycle in different environments

Not confident

7.1%

Ok33.3%

Very confident

59.5%

In a park or reserve

Not confident

6.3%

Ok20.6% Very

confident73.0%

P<0.001

Not confident

13.5%

Ok43.7%

Very confident

42.9%

On the road

Not confident

23.0%

Ok43.7%

Very confident

33.3%

P<0.001

To school

Not confident

39.3%

Ok40.2%

Very confident

20.5%

Not confident

32.8%

Ok38.4%

Very confident

28.8%

P<0.001

ResultsEffects of CST in Adolescents:

Knowledge of Cycling-related Laws and Road Rules

Improved knowledge of cycling-related laws

and road rules

84.6%

91.7%

60%

80%

100%

Pre-training Post-training

Average knowledge

score P<0.001

Fair (50-64%) 1.6%Poor (<50%) 0.8%

Good (65-79%)19.8%

Very Good (80-89%)50.8%

Excellent (≥90%)27.0%

Pre-Training

Effects of CST in Adolescents:

Knowledge of Cycling-related Laws and Road Rules

Fair (50-64%) 0.8%Poor (<50%) 0.0%

Good (65-79%)10.3%

Very Good (80-89%)28.6%

Excellent (≥90%)60.3%

Post-Training

P<0.001

Results

Effects of CST in Adolescents:

Practical Cycling Skills

Most adolescents were competent at most of the assessed skills

Not competent14.2%

Not competent -beginners

3.3%

Not competent -incomplete assessment

1.7%

Competent80.8%

Grade 1 Assessment

(n=120)

Average Score: 91.1%

Grade 2 Assessment

(n=74)

Not competent1.4%

Competent98.6%

Average Score: 97.6%

Lack of control

group

No data on

adolescent boys

Limitations

No pre-training

assessment of practical

skills

Conclusion

CST in

Adolescents

Improved cycling

confidence

Improved cycling-

related knowledge

No change in

cycling behaviours

& preferences

Recommendations

Future CST Programmes

Different

environments

Social

support

Part of

comprehensive

effort

Social

Environment

Personal

Family Peers

School

On

Road

Parks

Thank you

Acknowledgments

• Rose Dovey (SCDP Project Manager)

• Scarlett Hagen

• Charlotte Flaherty

• Dr Sandra Mandic Summer 2015/2016

Alex

Mintoft-Jones

Tessa

Pocock

Summer 2016/2017

Siobhan

McArthur

Dana

Lawrie

Kek

Chiew ChingTessa

Pocock

References

Existing CST Programmes for Children:

1. Ellis J. Bicycle safety education for children from a developmental and learning perspective. 2014:35-37

2. Richmond SA, Zhang YJ, Stover A, et al. Prevention of bicycle-related injuries in children and youth: a systematic review

of bicycle skills training interventions. Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury

Prevention. 2014;20:191-195

CST in Children increased knowledge:

3. McLaughlin KA, Glang A. The effectiveness of a bicycle safety program for improving safety-related knowledge and

behavior in young elementary students. Journal of pediatric psychology. 2010;35:343-353

4. van Schagen IN, Brookhuis KA. Training young cyclists to cope with dynamic traffic situations. Accident; analysis and

prevention. 1994;26:223-230

CST in Children improved cycle skills

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analysis and prevention. 2013;59:38-45

6. Ducheyne F, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Lenoir M, et al. Effects of a cycle training course on children's cycling skills and levels of

cycling to school. Accident; analysis and prevention. 2014;67:49-60

Positive Attitudes in Parents and Adolescents towards CST and perception that CST would make adolescents safer in traffic:

7. Mandic S, Flaherty C, Pocock T, et al. Parental perceptions of cycle skills training for adolescents. Journal of Transport &

Health. [in press]

8. Colwell J, Culverwell A. An examination of the relationship between cycle training, cycle accidents, attitudes and cycling

behaviour among children. Ergonomics. 2002;45:640-648

9. Mandic S, Flaherty C, Pocock T, et al. Attitudes towards cycle skills training in New Zealand adolescents. Transportation

Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior. 2016;42:217-226

References

Adolescents’ and Parent’s Perception of Cycling as a less safe way to school compared to walking

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Understanding the New Zealand context. Journal of Transport & Health. 2017;4:294-304

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Higher Rates of Bicycle-Related Injuries reported in adolescents

12. Candappa N, Chirtop M, van Duijvenvoorde K, et al. Traffic Safety Basic Facts 2012: Cyclists. 2012

13. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic Safety Facts: 2013 Data. Bicyclists and Other Cyclists. 2015

14. Boufous S, Rome LD, Senserrick T, et al. Cycling crashes in children, adolescents, and adults--a comparative analysis.

Traffic injury prevention. 2011;12:244-250

15. Ministry of Transport. Cyclists 2015. 2015