Big Rides for schools during Bike Week

For ten years Sawtell Public School has been successfully running a school Big Bike Ride for their senior students. Inspired by newspaper reports of Sawtell’s ride Anne Shearer, the Road Safety Officer from Coffs Harbour City Council, and John Gray, CH BUG President, earlier this year visited Sawtell Public School; the principal and staff involved were happy to provide details on how they ran their annual Big Bike Ride.

Armed with a detailed model and pro forma paperwork Anne and John approached Toormina Public School and William Bayldon Public School to discuss the possibility of these schools running their own BIG BIKE RIDES. These schools also found the idea new and exciting. The CH BUG promised to provide volunteers to support their efforts.

Bike Week was the last week of Term 3 for the public schools, so as well as the ride being a Health and Safety learning experience it was a fun day for the last days of the term.

On the Tuesday Toormina School had 60 children participating and on the Thursday William Bayldon School had 70 participating. The BUG provided 10-12 volunteers to assist in safe road crossings. On the Thursday Daniel Alcock from Rainbow Cycles, assisted by Wally Sims from the BUG, provided bike safety checks before the ride. There was a very interesting collection of bikes!

The children rode from their schools along footpaths, the Hogbin Drive cycleway and over Beacon Hill to the Jetty foreshores area where they had a BBQ and beach games and activities before returning by the same route to their schools. This meant a 22-26 km ride –quite an achievement for children of primary school age.

Everyone involved had a great time –kids, teachers, parents and volunteers and everyone wants to do it again next year. Some are asking can we do it again next term! There were a few minor injuries and mechanical problems but that was all part of the learning experience.
BUG volunteers were so happy to see 130 kids on bikes that week. Possibly next year we may be able to encourage other schools close to the cycleway to join the fun too.

Thanks to Sawtell Public School for showing the way, to the teachers at Toormina and William Bayldon Schools who enthusiastically took to the idea and to the BUG volunteers whose support has been appreciated by the school staffs.

John Gray