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Environment Friendly Transport News from Milton Keynes
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| Lack of Volunteers for Children's Cycle Training |
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from Ian Norman. . . As a MKC Volunteer Cycle Tutor in Newport Pagnell, I haven't run a class for the last couple of years because of the lack of parents coming forward to act as helpers. Primarily helpers are needed just to shepherd the children from location to location and help keep order. It is unsafe, if not sometimes impossible, for one cycle tutor to supervise 6 children (the maximum allowable under the scheme) for 'on the road' training without the help of at least another person. It is also important that the children are of sufficient maturity, at least Year 7 school age (11-12 year olds), so as to understand the assertive nature of 'on road' cycling, because 'on road' training is the best method to make them safer cyclists. But on the plus side it is an excellent way of exposing car based parents, if they help, to the rigors of two wheels. You usually find it opens a few eyes. It is also a good way of getting across the idea to older children that a bike is a vehicle and 'playing' in the road or cycling on the pavement is hazardous to themselves and others. Children's cycle training is a large responsibility and takes quite a few hours organizing, not to mention the time taking part. No wonder there is a lack of Volunteer Tutors! Perhaps if the profile of cycle training was raised by the Council in an article in the MK Messenger and in a 'flyer' to schools it would help the cause. |