These stations are designed to provide practical experience for the
boys on how to ride safely on the road. From learning how to safely
ride out of their driveway, to how to watch for traffic at stop signs,
and the correct use of hand signs, these scenarios will reinforce the need
for safety. Parents and leaders are expected to assist the station
leader at this event.
Instruction: Ask kids why they need to look behind them while
riding?
(They need to look for cars, trucks and other cyclists, or pedestrians
for those who ride on sidewalk). Explain that this station will help them
learn to look behind them without swerving.
Each child will ride next to the line and you will be walking about 10 feet behind them holding the cardboard car sidewise so they can not see the front of it. Tell then when they hear their name they are to look behind and tell you whether there is a car coming. You will hold the cardboard car in front of you when there is a car coming and sideways when there is no car.
Make sure the kids look over their left shoulder. Watch to see if the child veers when looking behind; if so, have him/her practice again straight using the line as a guide. Call their names several times, sometimes showing the car and other times not showing the car to them.
Materials: One car silhouette made up of cardboard, chalk to mark the start and finish lines.
Purpose: To teach children to stop at stop signs and watch for cars.
Instructions:
a. Tell kids this is a street intersection. Have them get in line and
approach the stop sign, where they stop, look both ways, the proceed, making
hand signals as appropriate for left and right turns.
b. Have two volunteers hold the cars (car facing means traffic coming; car turned away, traffic is clear). Make sure kids stop at sign then move far enough to see traffic and again look both ways before proceeding.
c. Watch for these errors:
· Child does not stop, or looks only one way before proceeding.
· Child sees a car and waits, but does not check again before
proceeding.
· Child making left turn places self too far to the right while
waiting (or vice versa for right turn).
d. Ask what else they should stop for (red lights, yield signs, uncontrolled intersections). Ask what yield means, and explain that stopping means putting both feet on the ground.
Purpose: To teach children control and balance, and how to avoid hazards.
Instruction:
· Tell kids that this station is to help them practice missing
hazards like rocks in the road so they wont fall from their bikes or swerve
in front of passing cars.
· They are to ride between the sponges and avoid the middle
sponge by riding around it. The trick is to stay between the sponges and
not swerve through them.
· Have them wait at the other end and practice going back in
the opposite direction. As they become more skilled (and time & crowd
permits), move the side sponges in a little.
Course: A 3ft wide course that features right & left turns, a stop sign, and emergency stop. (Try and make corners like intersections and draw in chalk the way the turns should go)
Purpose: Riders must use proper hand signals with making turns, must stop at stop sign, and must make emergency stop when signaled without losing control.
Instructions: Course Leader directs the riders through the course. Riders negotiate the street course making the proper hand signals at the turns. When Course Leader signals, the rider must make a safe emergency stop.
Purpose: To teach children to stop at the end of their driveways and safely check for cars before turning onto street or sidewalk. Then stopping correctly at intersection.
Instruction:
a. Explain to kids that this is their driveway. Ask what they should
do at the end before entering sidewalk or street (stop and look both ways).
Ask them what to look for; cars, trucks, other bicycles, dogs, cats, and
pedestrians.
b. They are to ride to the end of the driveway, stop, look both ways, and then give a hand signal for a right turn. (Have the group practice right hand turn signals: either extend the right hand out horizontally or extend the left arm straight, bending the elbow and pointing upward).
c. Have a volunteer hold the car (if facing the driveway, traffic is approaching; if turned away, traffic is gone). Use the fence/bush as a sight obstruction: children will have to move forward to see around it.
d. Watch for these errors:
· Child looks only one way.
· Child gives turn signal while riding out of the driveway,
riding with one hand only.
· Child fails to look for traffic.
· Child looks to left, then right until clear, then rides out
without final check for traffic.
e. Ask kids which side of the road they are supposed to ride on. Ask if they ride with or against traffic. Remind them that it is illegal and dangerous to ride against traffic because cars are not expecting them there. Make sure they stay to the right as they proceed into the street.
