This week, Oamaru Intermediate, Pembroke, Fenwick, Weston and Papakaio Schools are taking part in the "Bikes 4 Fun" programme, part of the Waitaki District Council's road safety programme.
Active transport co-ordinator Andrea Kydd-Law said yesterday it was a hands-on programme, getting children on to bicycles and teaching them about bike safety and other bike-related topics.
Each programme was designed in partnership with the school, targeting specific areas that fitted with the curriculum.
In addition to safety, the programme could include bike and pedal design, bike history, recycling, energy efficient transport, marketing and deconstructing a small BMX, which the children then rebuilt.
Once the classroom session was over, the children learnt balance and co-ordination through riding some of more than 60 altered and recycled fun bikes, Ms Kydd-Law said.
"These bikes have been designed with different levels of difficulty to suit all ages. The children and teachers who tried them last year had a huge amount of fun and learned lots of new things," she said.
The programme was such a success last year it had been extended to other schools this year.
