There were puddles aplenty at the Forbes Netball courts on Tuesday, however thankfully the rain abated to allow a record number of bike enthusiasts to learn, develop and reinforce their bike riding skills.
Almost 40 children entered for the Forbes session of the Aboriginal Bicycle Safety Program, which was the last of a series of ten held throughout the Central West. Over 60 sessions were held in the whole of NSW.
The participants were excited but had to concentrate hard during the free session facilitated by Jenny and Damien Enderby of Bike and Fitness. They are both qualified Cycling Australia and AustCycle coaches. The three-hour session gave participants a fun, interactive learning experience teaching them to ride safely. The session is based on the Let’s Ride Program.
Depending on the age, the practical skills learned and reinforced included pedaling, gear changing, braking, hand signals and scanning (both forwards and behind). They also learned the importance of visibility while riding and safe places to ride.
A bike mechanic was also present to provide much needed maintenance on bicycles free of charge. Lachlan Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Logan Dobel said this was really important. The maintenance included the replacement of brakes, tyres and pedals.
All participants also received a new bike helmet. The helmet laws for cyclists of all ages in NSW help prevent head injuries from falls. The NSW Road Rules state that all cyclists, regardless of age, including children on bicycles with training wheels must wear a helmet.
By Dianne Collie
