Derby City Council is rolling out a new Cycling Pathway offer building on the established and fully inclusive Cycle Derby package.
The new programme will provide free sessions that develop a love of moving more through cycling in children of all abilities from age three to eleven.
Cycle Derby, a Council-backed hub for creating and changing behaviours in cycling, introduced the programme in April 2026, which is expected to support an additional 16,000 young people in Derby.
The structured opportunities and clear progression for children, teaching staff and parents across Derby schools, will help children, teaching staff and parents develop the skills and confidence to make active travel a natural habit.
The new training will see children develop balance, coordination and early confidence in Year 1, before moving on to independent riding in Year 3. In Year 5, pupils will develop awareness, control and confidence to ride safely in off-road environments.
Year 6 will see pupils make the step up to riding confidently on the road through Bikeability Level 2, supported by additional grant funding from the Continued Active Travel Fund.
Alongside this universal offer, the Council will continue to provide a wide range of inclusive cycling sessions, family activities, and adult lessons. It is also exploring ways to expand coaching and sporting programs that support the delivery of inclusive infrastructure across the city.
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport, and Sustainability, said:
Learning skills from an early age is a great step towards building a city of confident cyclists. For many children, that first successful ride can be the start of a much more active lifestyle.
With this more structured programme, we can help more children build up their confidence on two wheels, support healthier lifestyles from a young age, and make active travel a real option for every family. We’ve delivered the infrastructure, now it’s time to help our children gain the skills to enjoy it safely.