Cycling training in schools
Published on 02 December 2019
Austria
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Less and less children use the bike to come to school. One of the main reasons is that they are not learning to ride a bike anymore. Another reason is that children are not allowed to ride a bike without an adult accompanying them until the age of 12.
Most of the Austrian schools offer a voluntary cycling exam following up on a training course for ten year old children (in the last class of elementary school). The training course is covering the topics: partners on the road, road markings and traffic areas, waiting or having priority, what a cyclist has to be able to and has to know, most important traffic signs, how to behave in cases of emergency) .
The overall organisation of the training course and exam is in the responsibly of the Austrian Youth Red Cross. Main stakeholders are parents, teachers and policemen. Parents are involved from the very beginning in order to overcome existing prejudices or knowledge gaps or fears. Teachers receive the necessary information materials (including exercises, examples, etc.), get support from the schools (access to traffic safety parcour, etc.). Police is strongly supporting the programs.
Most of the Austrian schools offer a voluntary cycling exam following up on a training course for ten year old children (in the last class of elementary school). The training course is covering the topics: partners on the road, road markings and traffic areas, waiting or having priority, what a cyclist has to be able to and has to know, most important traffic signs, how to behave in cases of emergency) .
The overall organisation of the training course and exam is in the responsibly of the Austrian Youth Red Cross. Main stakeholders are parents, teachers and policemen. Parents are involved from the very beginning in order to overcome existing prejudices or knowledge gaps or fears. Teachers receive the necessary information materials (including exercises, examples, etc.), get support from the schools (access to traffic safety parcour, etc.). Police is strongly supporting the programs.
Resources needed
Traditionally there are no additional resources needed. Teachers, parents as well as local police officers bring in their contribution in-kind. The materials are provided by the Austrian Youth Red Cross without charging any costs.
Evidence of success
More children get to use the bicycle at a very early age. In times of where 81 percent of adolescents do not meet the global minimum recommendations for physical activity which is at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity daily for children and young people aged 5-17 cycling can play a fundamental role to reduction of physical inactivity. The training is being implemented in Austria since 60 years. All over Austria every year more than 80.000 children participate.
Potential for learning or transfer
The programs are very popular, appreciated by both the participating educational institutions and the participating children. They increase the level of safety on public roads, while being efficient in promoting cycling as a mean of transportation within the young generation.
The practice may represent a model on how to integrate cycling in the official educational curriculum, as the training is embedded in the daily program of children while they are attending the classes.
The practice may represent a model on how to integrate cycling in the official educational curriculum, as the training is embedded in the daily program of children while they are attending the classes.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Austrian Youth Red Cross
Austria
Burgenland
Contact
Head of Mobility Center Burgenland