General News
30 May, 2024
Bike skills wheeled in
The road to good physical and mental health is better navigated on a cycle — that’s what kids at two local schools learnt this week. In an effort to promote “active travel”, students in Carisbrook Primary School and Maryborough Education...
The road to good physical and mental health is better navigated on a cycle — that’s what kids at two local schools learnt this week.
In an effort to promote “active travel”, students in Carisbrook Primary School and Maryborough Education Centre participated in full-day workshops on May 28 and 29 respectively, where they picked up vital bike skills.
Encouraging students to be more active, more often, the project aimed to equip students with the necessary skill-set so they feel confident and safe when riding to school or for fun on local roads and trails.
Sessions were delivered by the Bicycle Network on behalf of Healthy Loddon Campaspe — a State Government-funded initiative aimed at improving health outcomes in the region.
Lessons included teaching participants basic bike safety checks, how to correctly fit and wear helmets, various types of riding including straight lines, weaving and turning, plus road rules such as signalling.
Healthy Loddon Campaspe coordinator Alicia O’Brien said the project would make kids feel secure behind the handlebars.
“[It will] make them feel more comfortable to choose bike riding as a way to travel to and from school,” she said.
“We know from the Active Living Census, that almost 50 percent of Central Goldfields Shire residents do not meet the physical activity guidelines — we also know that footpaths, parks and local trails are some of the most popular places to be active in the region.
“Active travel, such as bike riding, contributes significantly to children’s daily physical activity.
“We’re excited to be contributing to increasing rates of physical activity in Central Goldfields Shire by providing primary school students the skills and knowledge to ride their bike as a way to be active, as well as a way to get to and from school.”
For year six Carisbrook Primary School student, Charlie Jardine, the workshop proved to be quite helpful.
“I enjoyed most of it,” he said.
“My favourite part was learning how to signal when turning while riding.”
