Hazel Driven on Cycling Course

BUILDING CONFIDENCE: Instructor Andrew Abbess is pictured with (l to r) Hazel White, Claire Ritchie, Julie Gough and Daniel Gough

A DRIVING instructor recently joined forces with a cycling trainer to improve road safety in Stirling.

Hazel White's working life revolves around four-wheeled transport as head of the Doune-based Wings School of Motoring.

However, she loves cycling and is also a qualified cycling instructor.

That's why she was happy to volunteer her help when Going Carbon Neutral Stirling (GCNS) announced a programme of free cycle training for adults.

GCNS, which is part of Keep Scotland Beautiful, had fixed up the services of qualified Stirling-based cycle instructor Andrew Abbess for the two-month initiative.

"It's a great idea by GCNS to hold these sessions," said Hazel. "Building confidence and awareness about sharing space on our roads is so important."

Indirectly, Hazel also helps cyclists in her day job. "Cyclists have as much right to be on the road as car drivers althought that is something that a lot of drivers still struggle with," she said.

Meanwhile, the cycle training scheme is going well. One of the early participants, Jeanette Roberts, found her session really interesting and useful.

"I picked up lots of new tips about how to assert my position on the road and also how to respond to other users' actions and behaviour," she said.

Andrew Abbess was also pleased with feedback from another of his pupils.

"At the start she said she felt nervous cycling in traffic and scored her confidence as two out of 10," he reported. "At the end she said she felt assertive and scored her confidence as eight out of 10."

There are still some places left for the cycle training scheme. For more information, contact Gavin Smith of GCNS on 01786 468765.

Hazel Driven on Cycling Course

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