“The benefits of Scootability go far beyond just safer riding for our young people – but will improve their physical health, mental wellbeing and academic performance – and lay the groundwork for generations committed to active and sustainable travel.”
Scootability is the national scooter training programme in the UK. It gives young people the practical skills and knowledge to make journies safely on a scooter on pavements and near roads. Scootability can give everyone the confidence to scooter safely and enjoy this skill for life. Coaching is available for all levels of experience – from professional, experienced instructors – all year round.
BACKGROUND
Scooters are as prevalent today as bicycles were 20 years ago. With a lower entry cost and a quicker learning curve, the vast majority of the 16 million young people under 18 in the UK have tried scootering. From 3 wheeled balance scooters for pre-schoolers to advanced trick scooters for teens, scootering is the fastest growing wheeled sport in the UK.
Training, policy, development and investment however have struggled to keep pace with the explosion in numbers of scooter riders in the last 10 years – and there is a desperate need to support the millions of young people and their parents who are looking to use their scooters to travel to/from school or in their local communities.
The Scootability framework is the only nationwide scheme that is trusted and recognized by schools, councils and youth organisations. Scooter coaching has already been delivered to over 100,000 children across the UK and we are excited that you are joining us on our mission.
With the right training, every child can grow up with the skills and knowledge to ride a scooter safely – transforming their lives – and contributing to a cleaner, sustainable, healthier UK.
THE TREND
In the last decade, scooters have seen rapid growth and record participation numbers among young people. This has been driver by the lower cost (than bicycles), a shorter learning curve, a safer experience (no travel on roads) and with events like X Games propelling scooter riding into the media.
At the same time, the push scooter market in the UK has experienced a significant evolution, driven by a growing urban demand for eco-friendly, “last-mile” transportation. While heavily powered electric scooters face complex legal hurdles and a strict ban on public roads and pavements, non-motorized adult kick scooters have surged in popularity as a fully legal, hassle-free alternative. This trend towards “active mobility” is being embraced by municipal planners as a low-cost, zero-emission lifestyle choice. It perfectly bridges the gap between walking and cycling without the weight, charging restrictions, or maintenance worries of electronic transport.
DELIVERY
Compared to bicycles, the delivery for scooter coaching is very different and faces reduced challenges to
wider and faster roll-out:
1) Scooters are smaller and lighter than bicycles meaning a single instructor can more easily transport large quantities of equipment for children to use. This in turn allows improved access to those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and facilitates full class sizes.
2) Scooters should not be ridden on roads – so whilst the importance of traffic, pedestrian and road knowledge is still integral, a lot of risk during coaching is reduced and access to suitable training spaces is easier.
3) Scooters have a faster learning curve. Easier to balance and turn, even young children can learn the basics in a short time – meaning that session lengths are shorter and roll out faster.
4) Scooter training is aimed at primary schools. These are the key learning and adoption ages – and provides a clearer, narrower focus – and make it easier to reach a larger numbers of pupils.
5) Scooters cost less than bicycles and as most are adjustable, have the ability to suit a wider range of ages. This makes providing the right equipment to the right people easier and keeps costs lower.