By Shelby Brooks
A bike education program is giving local kids an opportunity to experience the joy of cycling, all while learning how to be safe.
In partnership with Living and Learning Pakenham and Cardinia Shire Council, the program offers a bike education and maintenance program for disadvantaged or multicultural community children and youth over the summer school holiday period.
The aim is to build on this initial enthusiasm and engagement with a structured bike training course bringing together the young children, predominantly from African backgrounds, and mentors from The Men’s Shed, with the engagement of Victoria Police, St John Ambulance, fire department and Neighbourhood Watch Victoria. The learning from this will be used to develop the Bike Maintenance Training Course as an ongoing school holiday program at LLP as well at other venues across the shire.
Topics covered include how to conduct a safety check of bikes and helmets, how to change a flat tyre and a broken chain, basic bike riding including stopping, starting smoothly, precision braking, controlled braking and straight-line riding, skills riding, signalling, cornering and maneuverings, and riding side by side.
This project aims to increase the engagement of kids and teenagers with older community members whilst also increasing their understanding and awareness of bike maintenance, road safety, first aid and local support services.
Project manager Chengkuach Aleer said he hoped the program would encourage children to participate in other healthy and active activities.
“The whole idea is to have children educated about bikes and cycling,” he said.
“Hopefully they can go out with their bikes, start riding and be healthy.”
The bikes and helmets are provided by the shire.
Head to livinglearning.org.au for more information.
