22 April 2021
Council runs a free bike skills course for primary and intermediate students in Rotorua, called Bike Ready.
The Grade 1 course takes 3 hours for around 20 students at a time, and is best suited for years 5, 6 and 7. Grade 2 is better suited for year 6 and 7 students, as it involves a practical lesson for riding on urban roads.
The Bike Skills team teaches the course year- round, and also offers the course in te reo Māori.
A range of different size children’s bikes and helmets are supplied for tamariki to use during the course.
The Bike Ready course includes:
Grade 1 – Years 5 and 6
- Choosing a helmet, inspecting it for safety, and fitting it correctly
- Bike checks for safety and adjusting the bike for your height and size
- Signaling direction change while riding
- Stopping safely and bike control
Grade 2 – Years 6 and 7
- Riding on the road
- Road rules and laws
- Spatial awareness
The new skills are put to practice using games that challenge the students while riding, such as musical statues and cat and mouse.
You can see a video of the Grade 1 course with Te Kura Kaupapa o Te Koutu, here https://bit.ly/3hJFzDD
Aaron Sears, Rotorua Lakes Council’s Bike Ready co-ordinator, says that the fun and practical games help cement bike safe habits for tamariki.
“Learning these bike skills at a young age helps them to stay safe while riding, and gives them lifelong knowledge to share with whānau.”
Funded by ACC, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Rotorua Lakes Council, the Bike Ready courses are in high demand and should be booked at least six months in advance.
For more information or to sign up your school or organisation, email email@example.com