On your bike for Medina College students

Back row- Tom Walker, Ethan Wright, Ross Edmunds of the Shift It project, John Haynes (Medina College staff member).
Front Row- John Shambrook, Josh Lovett, and Nicky Metcalf, also from the Shift It project.

A number of year 7 pupils at Medina College have recently become the first on the Island to pass the level three Bikeability proficiency scheme.

The level three is awarded to those that can demonstrate safe cycling on busy roads and negotiation of complex junctions and multilane traffic. On the day, Tom Walker, Ethan Wright, John Shambrook and Josh Lovett successfully negotiated some of the Islands’ more challenging roads and traffic situations and passed with flying colours.

Speaking about the course, pupil Josh Lovett said: “We went cycling with Ross Edmunds so we could do our Bikeability level three. This taught us how to make a left turn from a minor road on to a major road then left again onto another minor road, then we were taught how to filter on a busy road, then how to cycle on Coppins Bridge safely.

“We can now do all of this when we cycle to school on the road. We cycle to school because it’s quicker, cheaper and more convenient than the bus. It also keeps us healthy.”

“The boys passed with flying colours. I am so proud of the boys’ achievement in navigating some of the busiest roads on the Isle of Wight, with confidence. They already ride to school on a regular basis and this course has given them even more faith in their skills to safely travel on the road,” said Ross Edmunds, Wight Cycle Training’s ‘Shift It’ project manager.

“I hope that more secondary school students take us up on our offer to help develop their cycling skills on the road.”

Bikeability is today’s answer to cycling proficiency offering children the chance to gain practical skills and develop their understanding of how to cycle on today’s increasingly busy roads – a must for any children wanting to get out and about on their bikes.

Jo Tuck, PE teacher and head of Year Seven at Medina College, said: “The Shift It Team have been wonderful- working with students from across the Medina College Community. From bike repair work shops, interactive assemblies and most recently the Level 3 Bikability course, our students have benefited hugely from their expertise and desire to see more students cycling. They’ve given our students the knowhow, skills and most importantly, the confidence to get on their bikes.”