Bicycle education, like driver education, is an important component of any comprehensive strategy to encourage cycling. Bicycle education can increase safety levels by helping riders become aware of their responsibilities as road users. Education sessions can also teach valuable lessons on riding skills, bike maintenance as well as being a venue to meet fellow riders. The following documents provide an overview of bicycle education for adults:
Australia:
- Telfer, B., Rissel, C., Bindon, J., Bosch T., 2006 Encouraging cycling through a pilot cycling proficiency training program among adults in central Sydney, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol. 9, p. 151 – 156.
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This paper evaluates the effectiveness of bicycle proficiency training on future rates of riding participation. - Bicycle Federation of Australia, Best Practice in Adult-Cycling Proficiency Training, funded by the the Department of the Environment and Heritage.
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The intent of the current project was to determine best practice in adult cycling proficiency training (CPT) programs and make recommendations for the development of a community-based CPT program for adults (and an associated train-the-trainer program) to enable and encourage adults to ride bicycles for transport, recreation and tourism. - AustCycle - Cycle Proficiency Training
AustCycle’s aim is to deliver high quality cycling training, by accredited Teachers (trainers) to Australians of all ages so that they can ride further, more often, more confidently and more safely. This will result in healthier, happier Australians and a safer, cleaner environment.
AustCycle is a joint venture between the Amy Gillett Foundation, the Bicycle Federation of Australia and Cycling Australia.
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South Australia:
- Cycling Adelaide
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Cycling Adelaide is an initiative designed to reduce existing barriers to cycling for Adelaide’s CBD workers. The program provides safe cycling workshops, on going support and social rides.
Bike Ed
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Bicycle SA has delivered the Bike Ed program since 1995 in South Australia. During that time there have been over 80,000 students in years 4, 5, 6 & 7 that have participated successfully in Bike Ed.
Tasmania:
- Cycling South, website, Cycle training courses
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This webpage outlines a range of bicycle training courses on offer in Tasmania, including beginners, intermediate and commuter courses.
Victoria:
- Bicycle Victoria, website, Bicycle education for children and adults
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This short document provides a brief overview of the importance of bicycle education programs, an explanation of Bike Ed and Cycle On, as well as a list of Victorian based cycle education providers. - Bicycle Victoria, website, Education programs
Learn new bike riding skills - Visit Site
Learn bike maintenance - Visit Site
These pages provide general overview of bicycle education, with useful links.
New Zealand:
- NZ Transport Agency, (2008) Cyclist skills training - A guide for the set-up and delivery of cyclist training in New Zealand, Prepared by Opus International Consultants Ltd
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The guidelines have been adapted to suit the New Zealand environment from the UK Bikeability programme established on behalf of Cycling England. These guidelines have been evaluated as best practice, particularly for providing practical cycling skills on the road. - NZ Transport Agency (2008) "Cyclist skills training: Summary of the guide",
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Cyclist skills training: A guide for the set-up and delivery of cyclist training in New Zealand outlines:- a consistent ‘best practice’ approach for the delivery of cyclist skills training in New Zealand
- the cyclist skill sets (or outcomes) that need to be achieved at each level of training.
- Cyclist skills training: newsletter
The vision for cyclist skills training is: a New Zealand where everyone has the opportunity to become a confident and capable cyclist
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International:
- Breaking bad habits in New York bike lanes
Chris, 27 August 2009, On Transport
Since the wild expansion of New York’s system of bike lanes under Mayor Mike Bloomberg, there has been a considerable increase in the amount of cycling. The bike lanes have made cycling considerably safer, especially in physically-separated lanes that have opened in the past year on 8th and 9th Avenues and most recently on Broadway. Unfortunately, there have been some troubling trends within these bike lanes that make cycling more dangerous for everyone.
Visit Site - United States Department of Transportation, 2002, Good practices guide for bicycle safety education, Federal Highway Administration, United States Government, Washington.
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This is a useful resource for those wishing to develop or review a bicycle safety education program. Although the case studies are drawn from North America, much of the content can be applied to the Australian and New Zealand context. - Danish Roads Directorate, 2000, Collection of Cycle Concepts, Government of Denmark, Copenhagen.
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The Collection of Cycle Concepts is a comprehensive Danish publication on cycling. It offers a wide ranging, yet detailed analysis and discussion on education, promotion, and urban planning for cycling. Although some of it is specific to Denmark, much of the content is internationally relevant. - Cycle Training Standards Board
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The Cycle Training Standards Board (CTSB) was formed in February 2007 by the Department for Transport as the custodian body of the National Standards for Cycle Training. The National Standards are the Government approved standards for cycle training. The CTSB replaces the development group, which over the last four years has developed and refined The National Standards. - Mozer, D. Tips for Teaching / Learning to Bicycle, IBike
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The traditional method of teaching a kid to bicycle was to run along side them holding them up-right and pushing them until they final did it under their own power and coordination. A tool to help with this is the " EZ-Bar". More on common mistakes while teaching bicycling.
