Learning the rules of the road — for student cyclists

Bike Windsor Essex kicked off its bike safety workshop Monday at Dr. David Suzuki Public School in Windsor.

Funded in part by Canadian Tire's Jumpstart program, the Cycle Smart workshop is a pilot project aimed at teaching bike safety to students between grades four and eight.

"We're teaching bike safety, rules of the road and also basic bike handling skills, such as hand signals, one-handed riding and simple starting and stopping," said Oliver Swainson, mechanical education coordinator and a certified Can-Bike instructor at Bike Windsor Essex.

In addition to bike safety, Swainson explained the program also teaches bike-riding for those students who may not have those skills.

"It's also sort of a fundamental introduction to how to navigate our city streets safely, both as a child and as an adult," said Swainson.

"They'll need these skills all throughout their life and, in fact, getting them started early will make sure that they're well-versed in how to navigate and get from A to B in one piece [in] any sort of vehicle."

Dr. David Suzuki Public School principal Kerry Green-Durren said she's been with the Greater Essex County District School Board for more than 30 years — and "this is one of the first times I've heard of something of this nature."

"I think it's a great opportunity and, to my knowledge, it's not something that has been done in an organized fashion like this," she added.

Ireland Noade, a fifth grade student who participated in the program, said she found the program helpful — even if she's already a confident bike rider.

"I learned about the symbols today, like right, left and stopping," explained Noade.

Bike Windsor Essex will also be working with Amherstburg Public School and Giles Elementary School over the next two weeks, according to Swainson.