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Bike Northland | Bikes in Schools | Cycle Skills Training

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Cycle Skills Training

The aim of the Cycle skills training programme is to increase the bike-riding competency of children, young people and adults.

The training is based on a national cycle education program, BikeReady which incorporates cycle skills training, to make bike riding safer and more fun from childhood onwards.

BikeReady has been developed by New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

The delivery of Cycle skills training in the Whangarei District is funded by the Whangarei District Council (WDC) and the NZTA. The programme is delivered through a partnership between Bike Northland and Sport Northland and is free to schools and all participants.


Cycle skills training in Schools

Cycle skills training in schools helps teachers to support student learning in two ways. Get easy access to bike skills training by professional instructors and use curriculum resources in the classroom. Participation in Cycle skills adds an authentic context for learning. Teachers and students can explore wellbeing (hauora), empathy, the transport system and active citizenship. The programme aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum, physical activity guidelines and the National Administration Guidelines.

Read testimonials from school staff and students…

How will Cycle Skills training benefit students?

There are many benefits to riding a bike. Trainees participating in the programme will:

  • improve their motor skills
  • experience a wide range of cycling activities
  • learn important road safety skills
  • develop independence and consideration for others

How does it work?

We offer two levels for schools for students between years 4-8. We can provide a modified programme for younger students. Please contact us to discuss.

Grade 1 usually takes between 2-5 hours in a non-traffic environment such as the school grounds or similar open space such as netball courts. Grade 1 is aimed at students aged 8 and over (Year 4+). The required skills are taught through a combination of fun drills and games.

Core skills covered in Grade 1

  • carry out a simple helmet and bike check
  • check other safety equipment, clothing and legal requirements
  • get on and off, start off and pedal
  • stop by using both brakes and cover brakes when riding along
  • steer the bike and manoeuvre safely to avoid objects
  • use the gears
  • looking all around including behind and over both shoulders, without losing control
  • cycle with one hand and signalling (stop, left and right)
  • stop quickly and with control

Grade 2 training takes 7-8 hours to complete. Training will take place initially in the school grounds and then move on to quiet streets near to the school or open area. Grade 2 is aimed at students aged 10 and over (Year 6+). We encourage teachers to join us on the roads if they are able to.

Core skills covered in Grade 2

  • identify some road signs and road rules
  • start and stop from the side of the road
  • ride along the road
  • pass a parked vehicle
  • pass a side road
  • turn left from a main road to a side road and from a side road to a main road
  • turn right from a side road to a main road and a main road to a side road
  • travel straight through at intersections
  • understand hazard identification in Grade 2 environments – with attention to driver blind spots
  • understand how to communicate with other road users

Cycle skills training for adults and workplaces

Cycle skills training is also available for workplaces and adults. With the rapid uptake of e-bikes and increasing awareness of the environmental and health benefits of commuting by bike, there are more people riding bikes. It is important for your own safety and that of other road users to understand the rules of riding on the road and have the skills to feel confident and competent riding your bike. If you or your workplace is interested in receiving cycle skills training please get in touch via the link below.

Get Cycle skills delivered in your Northland school or workplace…

Contact Us:info@bikenorthland.co.nz

For more information visit: www.bikeready.co.nz

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Bike Northland

Bikes in Schools has been awesome.  Our tamariki are out every day (all day if they could!) riding the bikes. Kevin ‘the bike man’ has been amazing – I have never seen someone teach children to ride a bike so quickly and it is great to see their faces when they have learnt to ride – and it is not just the 5 year olds. It has been great for our rural kids because they don’t have access to places to ride.

Pauline Johnson Principal at Poroti School

We love Bikes in Schools at St Francis Xavier Catholic School. So many of children can now ride a bike and this new skill has given them confidence in many other areas of learning.

We love the bike track and use it every day.

Kevin is a superb trainer and we all really enjoy working with him. keep up the great work!

 

Glenys Jakicevich Deputy Principal at St Francis Xavier Catholic School

We are extremely grateful for the support Bike Northland has and still gives our school. From the development of our very own bike track through to the supplying of the bikes. We have noticed the confidence in our tamariki grow tremendously through these resources and the lessons from their skilled instructor Kevin.

 

Matua Joel Sports Coordinator at Whau Valley School

My class biked 4 times a term to WGHS for music lessons. It would not have been possible to take up this opportunity without the bikes being available.

Every person in my class can now ride a bike. Every child in our school now has their own helmet!

Kevin was so helpful and our tamariki enjoyed remembered what he taught. The tactics he showed for non-riders were great and they are now riders.

We loved seeing the growth in confidence in students moving from being unable to ride to being able to ride in one session.

The kids really enjoyed the visits from Kevin. We are now able to run school tryathalons with our bikes and the kids are getting outside more to ride.

"I learned that biking is an important skill to learn. I always thought that biking was something that young men would do in their free time. I was wrong, I learned that biking is a sport and it's very common.

My favourite part was when we were driving around the cones even though I accidentally squished one with my bike. I loved the way you had the time to teach us how to be safe on a bike."

Ayla

"I learned the A.B.C.D.E. test which helps me to check my bike safety. I also learned that if you pull the front brakes too hard you can lean back and you will be ok. Another thing I learned was if you're going right you need to put your right hand out."

Ryan

"Well, I learned a lot of things such as the A.B.C.D.E., safety bike check and to not bend your arms when you look back. Eventually, I learned how to get the ball off the top of the cone without having to reach out. At first, I would get it but then drop it. When I could finally do it, I was so proud. I also learned that I had built more of my courage and that I must never ever give up."

Tyla

"I learned about the A.B.C.D.E. safety rules. In my opinion, I think that those rules work really well because they keep people safe on bikes but also safe on roads too. Another thing I learned was that when you turn a corner you have to put your hand out. Don't worry....next century they'll probably have indicators on bikes!!"

Kaya

"Thank you for helping us with the biking and teaching us about indicating with our hands. Thank you for teaching us that when you want to turn right you have to put out your right hand.

I learned that every time you go on your bike you need to do the A.B.C.D.E. test. I learned that every time you get off your bike you go on the left side."

Ben

"Thank you for showing me how to ride the red bikes and to ride with one hand. I really appreciated the help from you. I enjoyed the 'guess the colour' picture game a lot. It was a fun exercise, so thank you so much.

All of my class enjoyed it, including me. I had fun during the bike ride to the windows and back. I enjoyed the 'try not to touch the ground' game. I also remember the safety shake."

 

 

Hanna

"Thank you for taking the time for us. When it was rainy, you still taught us and focused on teaching us. I think that was really nice of you. Thank you for helping me learn things I didn't know.

I learned how to nearly ride with one hand, and that was really fun. At first, I was really scared but then each time I started to lift my hand up off the handlebars more and more. It really made a difference each time I tried.

My favourite thing was going around the cones. Sometimes it was hard going around the sharp corners but I got the hang of it. Each time I went around the cones I started to get more balance and in the end, I was able to do it without putting my feet on the ground."

Charlotte

"Thank you for teaching me how a bike works because I didn't know anything about the bike check - Air - Brakes - Chain - Drop - End plugs. When the first lesson started, I was so excited until I nearly fell off! By the way, once I fell off my bike at home and I scraped my knee. The graze was about 6cm long. It really did hurt.

The best thing I learned was how to look backwards and how to put a ball on a cone while I was riding. The most important thing I learned was the importance of safety when you are riding on the road. My favourite course was the second one when you needed to turn your head and guess the object on the card. My 2nd favourite thing was you teaching me and my classroom what to do on a bike."

 

Kaea

"Thank you for the course you provided to help us learn the skills to ride bikes safely. The safety lessons to help stay safe on the road when we are biking are very important. The epic games we played with you on the bikes were a fun way to learn. I really enjoyed it when Mr Hacker joined in the games we played on that day. I learned how to stay safe on the road by always staying on the left side of the road. Learning how to indicate with our hands to let other cyclists or cars know if we're turning this or that way is a new skill for me. I got better at riding around the big orange cones which you made as obstacles for us to face, thank you.

My favourite thing was having a free ride on our bike track."

 

Liam

"Thank you for teaching us how to put our helmet on, and thank you for teaching us how to ride bikes properly.

I learned that our bikes have two brakes and that I can ride with one hand. I learned that if you apply the back brake, you will only do a skid but if you apply the front brake, you will flip and hurt yourself or another person.

My favourite thing was when we had a race to the end of the courts and you told us to stop on the line or else we would crash into the bush. Riding bikes with you was so much fun,"

 

Tyler

"My class and I would like to say a big thanks for teaching us sensible ways to ride a bike. I really enjoyed it. Now I feel safe when I do the A.B.C.D.E., bike check before I ride my bike.

I learned that riding a bike is not just a thing that comes straight away, it's actually something that takes lots of practice and requires you to think safely.

My favourite part of the learning experience was when you taught us how to look over our shoulders to see the cars behind us. Also when we had to carry the ball with one hand around the cones which I know helps our balance in this situation."

 

Jack

"Thank you for teaching us how to ride a bike safely. People that did not know how to ride, do now.

I liked the obstacle courses, going round and round. It was a very cool way to learn how to signal where you are going, to be aware of the cars by making eye contact and looking over your shoulder.

My favourite thing was putting the ball on the cone so now I am really good at signalling. I am also a much better bike rider. I like being your helper and the leader."

 

Izzy

"The children loved the games/skills introduced. At least 2 of mine made amazing progress from not wanting or really being able to ride to being very engaged and trying to win the games."

"The programme provided the children with a varied and exciting way to learn more about riding and controlling their bike."

"Watching senior non-riding students learning successfully to ride was a highlight. (Kevin's skills were superb)."

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