We the undersigned, who are residents of the London Borough of Croydon, petition the council to request that the cycle training that has been cancelled and stopped since August 2026 to be reinstated with immediate effect. Please answer as to how this will be done as soon as possible.

https://www.croydon.gov.uk/streets-roads-and-transport/travel/cycling/cycle-training

Never before has all cycle training been cancelled due to a change of contract. This is cycle training which is offered in all London Boroughs:

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/cycle-skills#on-this-page-1

Also explain as to how you will ensure Professional Bikeability cycling instructors have their 75% pay cut reversed, are given a recoup of lost earnings from your actions and that a contract is chosen within the Waltham Forest Framework, (which is to try and standardise good working conditions for cycle instructors across London, ensuring pay rises with inflation each year), though also ensuring there is an increase to instructors current wage. Islington council currently demonstrates a good model for in-housing if the council chooses that route.  LCC are able to pay the appropriate wage when working for them. 

The cessation of cycle training in Croydon has resulted, in so far, hundreds of members of our community, including school children, no longer being able to access funded cycle training in line with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, which will effect thousands, if this continues.

This week is cycle to school week 5th - 9th October 2026 and in the London Borough of Croydon hundreds of children and adults are being denied and will miss out on cycle training to help them progress from learning to ride, to cycling safely on the road. Cycle training that enables people to travel actively, reduce pollution, reduce congestion, improve health mentally and physically, increase safety and reduce road death.

Professional Bikeability cycling instructors providing this life skill, have had their incomes stopped in Croydon, and have not had a proportionate pay rise since 2007, which has been effectively a pay cut of over 75% in wages, to date, going by the Bank of England inflation calculator:

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator

Professional Bikeability cycling instructors are key workers in helping TFL achieve the ‘overarching goal of the Mayor's Transport Strategy is that by 2041, 80% of journeys are to be made by walking, cycling and public transport.’, which includes ‘Support more children to travel actively through our Travel for Life programme and through our cycle training programme for children and adults’

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/planning-for-the-future/encouraging-cycling-and-walking

The way in which professional Bikeability cycling instructors, providing a vital service, have been treated and especially are being treated this academic year in the London Borough of Croydon has shown a distinct disregard for their value. Not knowing what is happening and having work drastically cut leads to feelings of concern, distress and hardship. 

Will Croydon Council take the lead in London and ensure that every child receives cycle training before leaving school as currently only a third of children receive any training at all? We believe that, like swimming lessons, cycle training should be a right, not a privilege.

Will the council coordinate to apply pressure on the Mayor of London and TfL to increase funding for cycle training, as so far there has not been an increase in about 20 years?

Funding for cycle training will need to be increased year on year to meet the Mayor’s overarching goal for his Transport Strategy and in making an important change in how people travel, especially for those shorter journeys, as well ensuring Professional Bikeability Cycling Instructors are appropriately remunerated.

Councillors were kept in the dark about what has happened, so please sign soon, before midnight Thursday 8th October 2026, so councillor Ria Patel can submit the petion to the council. 

I am a member of the IWGB (independent Workers of Great Britain) Cycling Instructors Branch.

https://iwgb.org.uk/en/page/iwgb-cycling-instructors-branch/