Kaiārahi Paihikara Bike Mentors

The Bike Mentor programme is a tailored in-school programme aimed at year 7/8 students, designed to increase confidence and participation in cycling amongst students. It can be run by an interested teacher or staff member with support from external providers, such as Pedal Ready, your local community bike workshop and Enviroschools facilitators.

Students are selected for their leadership ability or interest in bikes. They undergo a fun, challenging term-long programme which enables them to support and lead their peers to encourage more cycling to and from school, for sport or recreation and/or on the school bike track. They may also assist in checking and maintaining the schools bike fleet, coordinate events and help improve facilities for cycling at the school or in the wider community.

Note: The Bike Mentor programme was run by WCC at EBIS in 2018. Similar programmes have been run by community groups or councils in other areas. These resources are provided as a starting point for any kura or kaiako interested in running a similar initiative.

Please contact the Pedal Ready team or your local Road Safety Coordinator for the latest resources, support and information available.

Outcomes:

• Students are involved in cycle skills training, and learn basic mechanical skills
• Students learn about leadership; team building, facilitation and activation 
• Students help run events or promotions to encourage active travel within their school or community

Key skills:

• Cycle skills training - students take part in grade 1 and 2 cycles skills with Pedal Readyopen_in_new.
  • 3 sessions (1 for grade 1 on courts, and 2x for grade 2 on road), each around 3.5 hours depending on age and stage. Students must be competent riders or take part in additional coaching before the grade 1 session.
• Maintaining bikes - contact your local Council, bike shop, or a community bike workshopopen_in_new to provide training on the basics.
  • 3 sessions covering how to check and triage your bike fleet/bikes, how to do basic maintenance, and learn about types of bikes and how they work (physics!)
• Facilitation, leadership and advocacy - ākonga can learn how to organise meetings, gather information or ideas, then select one to make happen. Examples are advocating for better bike racks, getting sponsored or fundraising for bike locks or running events for their peers.
  • Ideally 3 sessions - one hour each on facilitation, leadership and the final one to start making a plan in small groups based on interests. Students continue designing, researching or taking action in their own or allocated time.
  • These activities could be run by teachers, community leaders, and supported by your local Council engagement team, or Enviroschoolsopen_in_new facilitator.