Wheelie fun lessons on new bike track
Takaro School has a new threestage bike track for kids to learn on as part of the Bikes in Schools programme.
The track runs around the outside of the school field, and was opened last Friday.
About $50,000 was donated by Palmerston North District Council for the project, which includes a skills track and a pump track with hills.
Asphalt, road marking and extras were added with support from other organisations, teacher Lizzie Notman said.
Fifty bikes of different sizes were also purchased for the school, and the funds covered a helmet for each pupil.
‘‘The kids love it, and it’s not just here for our school, it’s for the community to use, the kindies and families and other people as well,’’ Notman said.
‘‘It’s really good, we’re already seeing people come down and use it.’’
Some of the senior classes began learning on the track earlier in the month, and the whole school will begin Bikes in Schools lessons with their teachers as part of their regular classes next week.
‘‘I enjoy it, and it makes me think about the road rules and being safe on the road,’’ 12-year-old Kade Winiata said.
‘‘I’m better at balancing and how to ride the bike, and staying two seconds behind people and being aware of my surroundings.’’
Getting to school when you’re running late would be better on a bike, he said. ‘‘It’s good exercise ... you can get there by biking really fast.’’
The bike lessons were great for kids to let off steam, get some time outside and learn new skills in between academic subjects, Notman said.
About 30 kids regularly cycle in to the school.