Riding without restrictions: A look at the joy of motorcycling
In the summer holidays, approximately 200 children in Bremen are taking part in an intensive bicycle course offered by the Bremen Traffic Safety Association and the working group "but sicher! Together for a traffic-safe Bremen". The courses, which have been running for five years, aim to make children self-confident and show them the fun of outdoor movement, while also teaching them fundamental skills in traffic.
The courses are designed for children who have not passed their bicycle license by the end of fourth grade, as well as those who cannot ride a bicycle at all. Children who cannot bring their own bicycle can borrow one for the course. The locations for the intensive courses in Bremen are Delfter Street, Pastorenweg, Andernacher Street, Sozialwerk/Mentorenschule, and Traffic School at the Constructor University.
Verena Noelle, coordinator for mobility and traffic education in Bremen, explains that many children no longer learn to ride a bicycle at home. The intensive courses help to relieve teachers next year with the bicycle license, as they focus on children who could not ride at all. These children are in third grade and initially practice balancing on scooters before getting on the bicycles.
Education Senator Sascha Karolin Aulepp visited the intensive bicycle course at Pastorenweg, and the courses are financially supported by several sponsors, including ADAC Weser Ems, AOK Bremen/Bremerhaven, Gewoba, Sparkasse Bremen, and Brebau. Branded helmets are given to the children after the course.
The courses teach children a variety of skills, including navigating slalom around cones, riding one-handed, and throwing a tennis ball at stacked cans while riding. The courses are not only for children from certain neighborhoods, but also for children from privileged areas where many children aged 8 to 11 cannot or cannot ride a bicycle safely.
Nikola Schroth, a consultant at the Senator for Children and Education, warns that the courses and traffic education at schools are not enough to catch up on children who cannot ride a bicycle safely. The intensive bicycle courses provide an important opportunity for children to learn these crucial skills and gain more freedom to explore their neighborhood independently.
While specific data on participation rates, success metrics, and funding mechanisms for Bremen’s bicycle safety courses for children could not be found in the results, it is clear that these courses play a vital role in promoting safe cycling among Bremen's youth. Consulting local Bremen traffic safety authorities, schools, or organizations involved in child cycling education would be advisable for more detailed information.
Children attending the intensive bicycle courses in Bremen can enhance their lifestyle by learning not only fundamental traffic skills but also embracing the pleasure of outdoor movement, especially in the home-and-garden environment of the training locations. The courses, which cater to children from various socioeconomic backgrounds, are designed to complement education-and-self-development, allowing children to become more self-reliant and independent.
