The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Emer Costello will launch Dublin City Council’s new BIKE START cycling training programme at the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 on Wednesday 15th July 2009 at 11am.
Dublin City Council is the first Local Authority in Ireland to introduce BIKE START an integrated cycling training programme, which offers the highest level of training in Europe. The BIKE START programme comprises four progressive levels of cycling training that will provide safety awareness and practical cycling skills for primary school children. The programme will be rolled out by Dublin City Council’s Safe Cycling Team to all senior primary schools starting from September 2009.
As part of the learning programme, supporting material along with a new cycling training DVD will be distributed to all senior primary schools in the city. In addition, cyclists, teachers and parents will be able to view sections of the new DVD on Dublin City Council’s website: www.dublincity.ie. As part of the BIKE START programme a specific adult safe cycling programme will also be offered to those returning to cycling. It is hoped that the BIKE START programme will give students the confidence to cycle to school and encourage more adults to cycle to work.
“The BIKE START programme is I believe, a vital part of children’s education and I am delighted that it will be introduced to primary schools in September. This programme will encourage both students and adults alike to foster positive and responsible attitudes towards their own personal safety and that of other road users while cycling” said the Lord Mayor.
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Notes to the Editor:
The four levels of the “BIKE START” Programme are as follows:
Level 1 – Classroom Theory:
Level 1 is a classroom-based programme covering the theory of safe cycling and aims to raise the awareness and benefits of safer healthier cycling. Five modules comprise the theory of safe cycling. Each module is covered in two sections an information/activity sheet and a test sheet for assessment.
This level is suitable for students in primary schools from 3 rd class and can be taken whether they have a bicycle or not. A certificate of completion is awarded to students who complete all five modules within the class timetable. Students can then progress to Level 2.
Level 2 - Practical Off-Road:
Student cyclists must have completed Level 1 before completing this stage of the programme. Level 2 covers off-road practical skills training in the school grounds or yard, signs and equipment is provided by the Road Safety Unit to enable the trainer cover all aspects of skills and learning outcomes required for understanding safe use and handling of the machine. A Level 2 completion certificate is awarded to students who complete this stage.
Level 3 - On-Road Training Suburban Roads:
The Level 3 section of the programme covers on-road training on quiet roads adjacent to the school and enables student cyclists experience cycling in live traffic. Students cyclists must have completed Level 1 and 2 and must be in at least 6th class before the commencement of Level 3, in addition they must have reasonable knowledge in and experience of practical cycling skills on-road.
Level 4 – On-Road Training Town Roads:
The Level 4 section of the programme covers on-road training on more ‘trafficked’ routes in the city and includes planning a journey to school or work. Trainees must, have completed the learning outcomes for all three levels in order to commence this section of the programme. In addition they must have gained a reasonable knowledge in and experience of practical cycling skills going to and from school or work.
Each participant who completes the course programme at Levels 3 and 4 will receive a progress certificate for each stage of cycling skills learned. This certificate will show how much progress the trainee has made and if they have demonstrated an improved understanding of on-road safer cycling procedures.