Rangitīkei Bikes in Schools programme a success

Tamariki in the Rangitīkei are feeling more confident on two wheels thanks to a programme teaching bike safety in schools.

Sport Whanganui and Cycle Safety Whanganui, with the support of Rangitīkei District Council, organised the in-school programme which has so far seen 600 mainly 8-12-year-olds from eight primary schools learn valuable bike skills.

Over four weeks, Kerry Gowan and Esther Clemens from Cycle Safety Whanganui have worked with tamariki in each school, teaching everything from helmet fitting and bike checks to safe braking, steering, balance, relays, and fun bike riding games.

“We have had a great time coaching the kids and meeting the principals and teachers,” says Kerry.

“The benefits of the programme go far beyond cycling as it builds confidence and self-esteem that flows through into the classroom. Whether it’s seeing a learner or child with disabilities ride for the first time or accomplished riders learning new skills, having fun is the reward for us.”

Megan Syme, Acting Principal at Bulls School says what Esther and Kerry achieved in the space of just four sessions was amazing.

“I assumed our children both owned bikes and rode bikes regularly.  I was shocked when I discovered this wasn’t the case. Approximately 18% of our kids had either never ridden a bike or couldn’t ride a bike.  Approximately 22% rode regularly and displayed efficiency of skill and safety. These statistics highlight the dire need our tamariki need for further skill development and safety learning – ​safety being essential as our tamariki live in a town with two state highways.

“The delight on the faces of our children and the improvement in their ability was amazing.”

Sport Whanganui Community Connector Libby Rayner says the initiative grew out of the 2024 Do A Duathlon series, where organisers noticed a lack of participants from certain schools.

“To address this, Kym Skerman from Rangitīkei District Council was successful in securing a funding grant from NZ Lotteries which was used to purchase 22 bikes, helmets, repair kits, a trailer, and a storage container.”

Additional funds were granted from Sport New Zealand’s Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund to support the coaching of bike skills in schools.

“The first four Marton schools have already reported great success, with students eager for more sessions to build on their skills. Another four schools across the Rangitīkei – Bulls School, Clifton School, Turakina, and South Makirikiri – are in the midst of their sessions,” says Libby.

Having the fleet of bikes available also led to an increase in participation in the second Do a Duathlon series in February and March, with kids able to borrow a bike when they registered.

This year saw 85 enthusiastic tamariki register and race across the four weekly events, with a notable increase in 5–8-year-olds taking part. Next steps are to seek funding to extend the bikes in schools programme to younger students and look at how to continue to grow the Do a Duathlon series in 2026.

“The programme has been so successful that our schools are asking for more. They want their 5–7-year-olds taught the same skills as the older students and they want the older students to be taught how to ride safely on the road,” says Libby.

“The number of students riding their bikes to school has increased considerably, so they now need to learn how to do this safely without putting themselves and other road users at risk.”