Safe+and+Responsible+Cycling

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 * // OBJECTIVE: Students will describe and apply knowledge and competencies to keep themselves and others safe as riders.//**


 * // SUGGESTED TOPICS: wearing cycle helmets, maintaining cycles, cycling safely, following traffic rules and laws, identifying hazards, using other wheeled recreation devices. //**


 * // [|New NZTA Education website-Curriculum based...] //**


 * // Links to Support Classroom Teaching and Learning. //**

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> > [|Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals] [International] > [|Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust] [International] > [|Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute] [International] > [|Bicycle Industry Association of New Zealand] [National] > [|Bicycling Life] [International] > [|Bicyclinginfo.org] [International] > [|Bike Plan Source] [International] > [|Bike Week - UK] [International] > [|Bike Wise] [National] > [|BikeSafe] [International] > [|cyclesense.net] [International] > [|Cycling Advocates Network (CAN)] [National] > [|Getting there] [National] > [|Headlines - The newsletter of the WHO helmet initiative] [International] > [|National Bicycle Safety Network] [International] > [|National Center for Bicycling and Walking] [International] > [|Safe USA - Bike Safety] [International] > [|Skid Lid Kids Club] [National] > [|World Health Organisation Helmet Initiative] [International]
 * [|Cycling to school-very cool site!]
 * [|Cycles and the law-NZTA]
 * [|Bikeability-excellent teaching resources and ideas for getting kids cycling to school.]
 * [|How bikeble is your community-cool interactive site]
 * [|Kids have their say on helmets.]
 * [|Science of cycling.]
 * [|Reasons to cycle.]
 * [|Cycling Quotes.]
 * [|Helmet Safety.]
 * [|How to start a cycle train.]
 * [|Link to sustainable transport UK.] [[image:boyonskateboard2.gif width="128" height="117" align="right"]]
 * [|Cycling links for children.]
 * [|Cycle Cam in Christchurch.]
 * [|NZ Road Code for cyclists.]
 * [|Tool to map your cycle journey.]
 * [|Rollerblading]
 * [|Interactive cyclesense site.]
 * [|How helmets are tested.]
 * [|Are you wearing your helmet correctly?]
 * [|How does a cycle work?]
 * [|Cycling Detective Webquest]
 * [|Bike Safety-TKI]
 * Cycle Crash Fact Sheet-LTNZ 2007[[file:Cyclist-Crash-Factsheet-July-07.pdf]]
 * [|Be Seen-the importance of wearing high vis]
 * [|Check your bike]
 * [|Cities around the world bikes with bike sharing.]
 * **//Cycling across the currirulum may look like....//**
 * **Cyclists**



Here are some ideas which should help to get the whole school pedalling!

 * Think about appointing some pupils as ‘Cycling champions’. They can take the lead in organising various cycling projects, clubs and expeditions.
 * ‘Bicycle buddies’ can be experienced cyclists who agree to spend some time with pupils who are new to cycling. Your older pupils, perhaps from Years 5 and 6, or possibly a group of parents would agree to support younger pupils as they learn about road safety, map reading, and repair and maintenance.
 * School councils are keen to consider issues that have real and worthwhile outcomes. Ask them to draw up and agree upon a new school cycling policy. Remind them to use positive language to encourage children to cycle to school.
 * Encourage pupils to make some proposals about a cycling activity which could be enjoyed by everyone in the school. This might be a special event or even a request to run the Bikeability training programme.
 * Form a ‘Bike squad’. This might be a group of regular riders who run a rota to check that all the bikes are securely stored and in good working order.
 * Make cycling the focus of your curriculum activities as part of a special day or week.
 * Organise a special cycling ‘day out’ in which pupils cycle around the neighbourhood together to ‘reclaim the streets’. Invite the local press along, especially when you meet the mayor or your local councillor.
 * Have some designated time in the playground for pupils to practise their cycling skills.
 * Encourage pupils to measure their mileage. How far have they cycled in a week? Keep a running total.
 * Watch the miles really grow. Add up all the miles cycled by a class or school and put them on a map. Between you, have you cycled enough miles to reach Paris or Rome?
 * Get together with other local schools and combine your cycling mileage totals, perhaps your combined efforts will stretch as far as Sydney!
 * Investigate bike maintenance. Invite someone into school to give tips on carrying out basic repairs. Alternatively you may be able to visit a local bicycle repair shop.
 * Form a cycling club and take a trip to discover local history or local landmarks. Remind pupils to pack a sketchbook and camera in their saddlebags to record the event.
 * Have a ‘Bicycle fancy dress day’ or ‘Bring your bike to school’ with a prize for the best dressed bike.
 * Combine some of these ideas to stage a wonderful cycling festival to be enjoyed by everyone in the school community.

Take the opportunity to incorporate cycling into Design and Technology. Try some of these ideas.
> > **Warning:** > - young cyclists ahead > - cycle track ends at cliff edge. > > **Information for cyclists:** > - bends in road > - sharing pathway with other users. > > Pupils can think of other situations for more sign designs.
 * Use the Internet to research current designs for cycle storage. Then challenge pupils to design new storage for the school.
 * Is it possible to hold a competition for creating a cycling image to be painted on your existing cycle storage?
 * What would a futuristic bike shed look like? How would the bikes be different? Can pupils invent an incredible futuristic device for bicycle security?
 * Bicycles are fascinating objects to draw. Bring one into the classroom and begin by asking pupils to draw a section. Encourage them to experiment with different drawing materials – pencils, pens, felt tips, chalks, card dipped in ink, paint brushes and so on – and to alter the scale of their drawings from minute to enormous. Ask them to label the different parts of the bike. The [|Build a bike]interactive game can be used to support this activity.
 * Display a selection of road signs including those of most relevance to cyclists. Challenge your pupils to design signs for the following:
 * Invite your pupils to design an **‘adventure cycling space’**. They can include tracks and ramps as well as describing cycling games to be played in the area.
 * **Be seen and look smart.** Ask pupils to design the latest cool, safe outfits and equipment for cyclists. Include clothing and helmets.
 * Find some pictures on the Internet and use a really good one on a poster to persuade parents to cycle with their children.
 * Think up a **catchy slogan** to ‘sell’ the idea of cycling to school such as ‘It’s smart to cycle,’ or, ‘Cycling is clever.’ Use your slogan as a headline for a poster.
 * **Design a poster** to tell people that there are some good local cycle paths to enjoy in your area.

**//Parents as First//** //**Teachers-How to encourage safe and responsible cycling on the roads.**//

 * Make sure you and your child always wear a cycle helmet, and are highly visisble in what you wear.
 * Children under the age of 10 should only cycle on the road if competent in skills and knowledge of rules of the road.
 * Make sure that your child's bike is the right size and that the front and back lights work, the back reflector is clean and the brakes and tyres are working.
 * In some places cycle paths and lanes are provided –make sure your child is aware of where they are.
 * Add reflective strips to the cross bar for extra safety.

**//Stay close. Stay Alert!//**

 * For young children to be able to play safely, an adult needs to supervise them closely and actively.
 * Make sure children have a safe place to play, such as a backyard, fenced park or recreational area. They should always be supervised by an adult.
 * **Roads, carparks, footpaths and driveways are never safe places to play.**




 * When buying a helmet:**

A young child’s skull is soft and easily injured. So whenever [|children are riding] wheeled toys or bicycles, it is important that they are wearing a correctly fitted NZ/Australian Standards Approved helmet. This is an adult’s responsibility.
 * Take the child to the shop with you, to make sure the helmet fits properly.
 * It should sit two child finger widths above the child’s eyebrows, and be neither too tight nor too loose.
 * It should not be too heavy for the child’s head and neck to carry.

Young children who wear helmets from the moment they start riding their first wheeled toy will be safer from head injury, and are more likely to continue the practice throughout their lives. Use these road safety messages:
 * “No helmet, no bike.”
 * “When everyone has their helmet and shoes on, we can ride our bikes.”
 * “If anyone isn’t wearing their helmet or shoes properly, we’ll put the bikes away.”


 * When supervising children, use these opportunities to talk to them about:**
 * How helmets and enclosed shoes keep us safe.
 * Why we must ride and play away from traffic - for instance, in the backyard or at the bike track.
 * Why footpaths and driveways are never safe places to play.
 * Why young children can never ride their bikes, scooters or skates without an adult closely supervising them.
 * Scooters and motorised toys also need to be supervised closely by an adult. They are harder to control and can put children into danger quickly.



Safe Play
Children can dart into traffic very quickly when distracted by games they are playing. Where possible children should play in a fenced yard or park and be supervised by an adult at all times. Driveways are unsafe areas for children to play. Use these road safety messages:
 * “Always play in the backyard”
 * “Dont play in the driveway”
 * “Never follow your ball onto the road”

Make some family rules about safe play, talk about them with the children and then stick to them - every time they are using bikes, trikes or scooters.