Bike Safe training Bike Safe training
Children should know how to ride their bike or scooter safely and be confident in traffic before attempting to ride to school, with or without parents/caregivers. Our specialist Bike Safe instructor can visit your school and take your students through training to help keep them safe on their wheels.
- Register your interest for Bike Safe training.
- Learn about the Bike Safe programme for year 5 and 6.
- Learn about on-road cycle skills training for intermediate and secondary schools.
About the Bike Safe programme for year 5 and 6 students
- The programme is offered free of charge to year 6 students or for year 5 and 6 where the school has composite classes.
- Training time is approximately 3 hours per class.
- Teacher support is required with behaviour management during the training session and may need to be involved to provide one-on-one help to students who are new to riding bikes.
- Training is delivered within school grounds, usually on concrete courts. Theory components may be delivered in the classroom.
The programme covers Grade 1 of the NZ Transport Agency Cyclist Skills Training Guidelines. This grade teaches cycle control skills within the school playground and focuses on bike handling, confidence and safety.
The programme includes a mix of theory and practical modules where students will complete a bike safety check, learn how to fit a helmet correctly, and practice basic cycle skills.
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class. Students may also bring their own bikes and these will be checked for safety before the session.
As per NZTA guidelines, Grade 1 teaches competence in off-road environments only and does not in any way suggest that students completing the course will be ready to ride on the road. Grade 2 courses for riding on the road may be offered at Intermediate and Secondary level.
Download the Bike Safe Grade 1 teacher's handbook (PDF 1.3MB).
Core skills
The core skills covered in the Bike Safe Grade 1 training are as follows:
- Carry out a bike check.
- Carry out a helmet check.
- Steer the bike and manoeuvre safely to avoid objects.
- Understand the legal requirements and safety equipment for bicycles.
- Use the gears appropriately (in some cases).
- Get on and off the bike without help.
- Stop quickly and with control.
- Look behind.
- Hand signals – stop, left and right turns.
About the (on-road) cycle safety skills training for intermediate and secondary schools
- The programme is offered free of charge to year 7 to 10 students.
- For students who currently cycle to school (or who will potentially cycle to school).
- The course generally takes 2 whole school days (or 4 half-days).
- The instructor to student ratio for Grade 2 is 1:6. A minimum of 6 students and a maximum of 30 students at a time.
The programme covers Grade 2 of the NZ Transport Agency Cyclist Skills Training Guidelines.
Please contact Auckland Transport to find out more about this programme.