Te Haumarutanga Kutarere Scooter Ready
More and more children are riding their scooters to school. As well as having fun on a scooter, with training kids can learn important and useful skills.
Scooter skills training
Our team have developed a scooter training programme together with MicroScooters. This is aimed at ākonga in years 3-4, but can be offered for older students if cycle skills isn't appropriate. (An intro can be provided for younger students depending on availability.)
The course helps students who may start scooting to school independently with awareness around driveways and crossings, as well as basic skills. It also builds skills for the cycle skills programme available for students in years 5 and above.
Visit Pedal Readyopen_in_new for more information.
Teachers resourceThe Teachers resource was developed by the Pedal Ready team to provide a background to the practical training and a few extension activities for teachers to use. It is due to be updated, so please contact us if you have any good suggestions. |
(769 KB, Pdf) |
Scooter Ready postersThese A3 posters are available to download in English (2.2 MB, Pdf)and te reo Māori (1.7 MB, Pdf). If you would like printed copies, please contact us via schooltravel@gw.govt.nz. We have limited stock available. |
(1.7 MB, Pdf) |
Resources from our partnersWaka Kotahi have shared several resources from our friends across the motu:
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open_in_new |
Scooter Safety videos with Wellington Paranormal
Here are 4 scooter safety videos, for teachers to play to their ākonga in class. These are available in both English and te reo Māori.
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Episode 1 - Set up and safe gear
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Episode 2 - Stopping safely ("the hop-stop")
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Episode 3 - Sharing the footpath
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Episode 4 - Stop, look and listen (sneaky driveways and crossing the road)
The videos cover safe scooter use and sharing the footpath. They feature the cast of TV show Wellington Paranormal. Spookily informative!
Please note: depending on your settings, there could be ads played before the actual video – you may want to play this on your own laptop before broadcasting to the class.
About Scooter Skills training
The Scooter Ready programme teaches;
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traffic awareness
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footpath etiquette
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looking for cars reversing out of driveways, and
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what to do at pedestrian crossings and intersections.
View the instructors session plan here (3.5 MB, Pdf).
Scooter Ready is supported by Micro Scootersopen_in_new and is offered for children in years 3-4 as part of the Pedal Ready Programme. It is a partnership between schools, Territorial Authorities, NZ Police and Greater Wellington, supporting communities to promote safe and active travel.
Many of these skills are essential for all kinds of travel, whether it’s scooting, walking, cycling, skateboarding, or – in years to come – driving. Helping kids to become street smart gives parents more confidence to let their kids travel independently.
And the more kids who scoot, walk, or cycle to school, the less traffic congestion at school gates and on our roads, which is good for other road users and the environment.
The Scooter Ready Programme is available alongside the Pedal Ready cycle skills programme which is delivered to students in years 5-8.
Instructors cover safety awareness and the skills to scoot safely.
An e-scooter resource (1.1 MB, Pdf) and training is available for adults and secondary students on request.
Set-up
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What to wear when scooting – helmet and covered shoes (no jandals!)
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Setting up your scooter – handlebar height, clamps and brake
Stopping
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Being able to stop safely and quickly
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Knowing when to uses brakes or the 'hop stop'
Sharing spaces
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Choosing safe places to scoot – avoid driveways and other hazards
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Being aware of others in shared spaces.
Skills for safer scooting
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Gliding – positioning foot on the deck for balance and braking
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Switching – changing the foot with which you kick
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Cornering safely – protect against falls and foot injuries
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Hazards - how to watch out for them and avoid or ride over safely
Equipment
The instructors may bring Micro helmets and Micro scooters for the students to use for the sessions. Students are welcome to bring their own scooters and helmets. These will be checked before use.
Venue
We need a court sized area. Either an outdoor area or indoor hall are ideal. In case of rain it is preferable to have an indoor back-up if an outdoor area is planned. Alternately a “rain date” can be arranged.
Duration
The sessions are run during class time. A 50-60 min block is ideal but we are happy to work within your usual timetable.
In the Wairarapa please contact the school travel planner.
For all other parts of the region, please contact the Pedal Ready team to book your Scooter Ready sessions alongside Pedal Ready.
Note: at this stage we have limited the numbers for scooter training. Preference will be given to schools who also do Pedal Ready cycle skills.
In order to organise instructors for your groups we will need to know:
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Which dates you would prefer (and any alternate choices or rain dates as well)
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How many groups/classes of children (up to 25 per group)
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What times your breaks are
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Any special needs of the students who will be participating
What's next?
Te eke pahikara kia haumaru Cycling safely
Information about our Pedal Ready cycle skills training programme and the BikeReady curriculum resources.
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