Cycles of Change, located at Roosevelt Middle School, have successfully completed two sessions of our beginner’s bicycle safety courses . Because of the collaborative efforts of the two program’s staff, we have been able to share in the development of the curriculum and in the implementation of these courses. Thus, the description of the courses applies to both programs equally.
The beginners series is designed as a four week curriculum, with one class a week. Each session is designed to reinforce and then build upon the foundation of the previous weeks lessons. In order to build upon the lessons and skills learned in the previous week, each subsequent ride destination offers opportunities for students to practice what was learned previously while introducing new opportunities which give them the skills of the required to ride safely in different traffic environments.
We begin the first day of the series by introducing the students to the program, the program staff, and fellow students. Then we have a group discussion with ice-breaking name games, an introduction to the basic rules of the road for cyclists, the requirements for safe group riding, a hands-on demonstration of proper bicycle and helmet fitting, and a lesson on what needs to be checked on bicycles before they are ridden. We follow this with a bicycle safety survey. With this completed, staff assist students in checking out and correctly adjusting helmets and bicycles.
Once on the bikes, we start off with a few rides around the block, in order to assess individual riding ability and to develop safe group riding habits. Riding around the block also allows instructors to assist students in developing their overall control of the bike, specifically in regards to safe braking and shifting skills on small hills, and paying attention to stop signs and light neighborhood traffic.
When students are ready, we ride to San Antonio Pier. Along this ride students get practice riding over a bridge using a bike lane, looking for and stopping at stop signs and stop lights, crossing rail-road tracks and crossing large intersections as a group. At the pier, we have a snack and look at a bike map to understand our route as well as our location in relation to the larger Bay Area, and we start a watershed discussion to be followed up in later rides. Also at the pier, students are introduced to multi-use pathways, and are taught right-of-way concepts for pedestrians, cyclists, and automotive traffic. Our return ride is along the same route and reinforces the riding lessons.
When we return to the starting location, students learn the ritual of helping to put bikes and helmets away. Teachers check-in with individual students on their overall progress and suggest any improvements that are needed. Finally, the teachers check-in with each other in regards to the overall lesson and the individual students. This is our typical closing for each of our beginning rides.
The second week of the session starts with a re-cap discussion of safe riding habits and follows with a ride to Dimond Park which reinforces the lessons of week one and introduces some new challenges including the short, steep uphills of the Sausal Creek area. On this ride students also gain experience and practice of riding on streets with more automotive traffic than on week one, and they learn to safely use crosswalks to cross intersections with heavy traffic. At Dimond Park students also gain important bike handling skills while riding on a short, easy dirt trail along Sausal Creek and learn about the watershed and its trees (Oak, Bay and Redwood). On the return ride we practice riding up steep hills using the bikes gears, and maintaining good control of the bike by braking on curving downhill grades. We end with our usual closing and an invitation to our free mechanics classes.
Week three teaches students how to use the BART system as a cyclist, and reinforces the previous two weeks of lessons while riding around Lake Merritt and back. We start with another discussion of safe riding habits while emphasizing key skills which we have noticed the group needs develop further. Then we introduce Bikes on BART rules, and talk about the differences between two and four way stop sign intersections, which are encountered on the route back from Lake Merritt.
Once geared up, we begin riding to the Fruitvale BART station which gives students experience riding busy streets, making left turns and correctly positioning themselves when they are in a right turn only lane while intending to continue straight. At BART, staff help students to remember the proper etiquette of taking bikes on the BART.
While riding around Lake Merritt students have the opportunity to practice bike riding etiquette on a shared multi-use path. At the Lake Merritt bird sanctuary we discuss links between transportation use, water pollution, and the myriad of environmental and economic benefits of cycling. On the ride home students learn to navigate confusing and busy intersections safely, and practice traveling along a road with many two-way stop sign intersections. We finish with our usual closing.
On our fourth and final class we start with a review of the rules of the road, safe riding habits, and a bicycle safety check. Our destination is Alameda Beach and Crab Cove. This ride reinforces all of the safe riding habits from the previous lessons, and develops the students riding endurance. Riding skills and situations which are reinforced include: group riding skills, two and four way stop sign intersections, stop lights, bike lanes, bridge crossings, navigation of busy intersections and busy streets, sharing multi-use paths, safe left turns, , and lane changing techniques. In addition, at Crab Cove, we participate in a beach clean up with the ranger, have a picnic, play in the water, and then return home. Back at Bike Club we have a graduation review of each student, with those graduating receiving a free helmet and an invitation to our intermediate ride program, and those who need more skill development are invited to attend another beginning class.
Since our beginning series began in January both programs have seen a significant improvement in over-all
So far 90% of the students who have graduated from our beginning series have continued on in our intermediate ride program. Between the two programs we have graduated 42 youth and have 19 students presently in midsession.
Why you should join Bike Club
I am giving the opportunity to join the greatest club imaginable, Bike Club, It Rocks!! During the 7 week session you will have your best time ever. Just think about it, riding bicycles for 2 or 3 hours and going to cool trips to different places. Riding in the street feeling as free as a bird. The wind slapping against your skin, coming you down and taking all your fears off of your mind.
When you go on Bike Club, you go on wonderful adventures. Grey the Bike Club teacher, takes you all around Bay Area. For instance, he might take you to Lake Temescal, like he took us last week, even to Brookdale or Diamont park. No matter where Grey takes you, trust me you will have a ball ! Not only you will have the greatest time ever, but Grey, the teacher will provide a yummy snack for you. In fact, the snack isn’t only yummy; it is also free, yes, free!!
Riding bikes is not the only fun thing you do in Bike Club. You also get the inside scoop in how to built, fix and overall, learn all the names of a different parts of a bike. This does take hard work, but in the end it will all pay off and you will be proud of your self. At the end of the session you will keep your bike and take it home for free!! “I learn how to built a bike from scratch” said Albert, a young student who has attended Bike Club for 2 years.
Another reason, you should consider join Bike Club is because you won’t be wasting your time, you will be learning new things about bikes, you will be learning new things about the traffic laws when riding bikes (which it definitely it will come handy), but most importantly you will be having fun and learning new things about your self, for example what a girl has been in bike club for 4 months said, “When I was in Bike Club I learn that I am calm when there is a predicament and also I had become more of an adventurous person now” – Nadia Seaphan.
Please, don’t hesitate to join Bike Club It is a very popular club, in fact 100 out of 128 middle school at ASSEND students have attended this Bike Club.
February 28, 2000
