Version control: Original 1986 / Updated 1999 / Updated 2003 / Updated 2014 / Updated 2015
Introduction
You must refer to the Requirements for All Sport and Physical Activity (PDF 466KB) to understand your overall compliance responsibilities.
Bicycle safety education promotes safe and responsible cycling by providing students with opportunities to develop positive attitudes to safe cycling. The program focuses on an understanding of the cyclist's rights and responsibilities, safe defensive cycling techniques for both individual and group cycling, an understanding of the mechanical operation of the bicycle and the need to maintain it correctly.
A bicycle safety skills unit conducted either as part of the school sport program or in PDHPE is the ideal introduction to other more advanced cycling activities described. Contact the Road Safety Education Officer in your Educational Services Team for more information.
Parents or caregivers must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking their written permission.
Students are to be instructed to use adequate sun protection, e.g. an SPF50+, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen reapplied regularly.
Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experiences
The teacher/instructor should have had proven personal experience in the type of cycling being taught and be an active bicycle rider. A teacher must be present who has recognised current training in emergency care.
Supervision
A teacher must be appointed to organise, supervise, and control the activity. The teacher to student ratio must not exceed 1:20. If an adult other than a teacher is engaged for instruction, a teacher must be present to take overall responsibility.
Equipment
Each student should have his or her own correctly sized bicycle and be aware of the NSW Road Rules relating to bicycles. Repairs and adjustments required to bicycles are the responsibility of the parents/caregivers. If any participating student's bicycle fails the pre-course bicycle check or if the parent/caregiver does not make the required repairs or adjustments, the bicycle is not to be used in the program until such time as the repairs or adjustments have been made.
The students' bicycles should be checked several weeks before the cycling activities commence.
A helmet meeting Standards Australia specification must be worn by each student participating in practical bicycle safety education lessons and activities.
Closed shoes must be worn. Baggy clothing is considered unsuitable for this type of activity. Students should be encouraged to wear brightly coloured close fitting clothing e.g. shorts, aerobic pants or ‘cycling knicks’.
Teachers are to instruct students to regularly maintain their bicycles particularly brakes, tyres, chains and gears. Handle bar tape and plugs must be fitted to the bicycle.
For road cycling, all participants should carry a basic tool kit containing spanners/allen keys to suit their particular bicycle, a puncture repair kit, a spare inner tube and pump. Should a participant not have a kit, she or he should travel with another who does.
A mobile phone to be used in an emergency situation is desirable on all rides but teachers should allow for the fact that they may not operate in all locals.
A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available.
Venues
A flat area should be used which is free of possible hazards for the riders, e.g. obstacles, potholes or rocks. The flat area should be sufficient in size to enable the safe passing of riders and be isolated from pedestrian traffic.
Safety
Bicycle safety checks must occur before the program commences and at the beginning of each lesson. The bicycle check should be conducted under the teacher's supervision.
Prior to each student's participation in practical cycling activities the teacher must check that each student is wearing an approved helmet and that the chin strap is securely fastened.
The teacher must check that the students’ shoelaces are securely tied.