What skill level do I need to ride a bike? Or for my daughter to be safe on the road?

^ Hmmm I suspect advance road skills would help in a lot of conflicts on the road. There are so many clueless and mannerless riders not helping matters or themselves. Yeah there are absolute knuckle draggers with the potential to kill but I see so much stupidity on bikes....

I agree but why is so little money or time spent training kids in schools to ride. ?

I think the question should be: Why has the mayor decided to ignore the scheme he funds. Why has he declined taking up the course himself? Why has he failed to push it in the media?

It's bonkers how few people know instruction exists...

I always strongly advise parents to do [strike] cycle training[/strike] advance road riding* alongside their kids. They'll be able to remind their kids of things they naturally forget in a few days, weeks, months. This way the parent will know when they've 'got it' and will be able to let them cycle on roads with their blessing and faith as opposed to sitting in ignorance, praying they return alive.
It also stops parent giving conflicting information from the course about where and how to ride.

• cycle training isn't strictly the correct title for what the course is and hence is potentially off putting to cyclists with some experience.