Eglinton Public School, Perthville Public School and Bathurst Public School all held very successful, student centred bike safety week activities this year.

Eglinton Public School's bike safety week has been running for over 50 years.

The whole school, local police, rural fire service, bicycle shop mechanics and parent helpers all worked together to host an educational and fun filled, community event.

The week was celebrated with a 10km bicycle ride around the town and parks, before a delicious sausage sizzle back at school.

Perthville Public School run their bike safety week every two years.

This year the school teamed up with the Australian Sports Commission Sporting School Cycling program, Let's Ride (now called Ride Nation). The program's host Toireasa Gallagher, a Perthville Public School parent, Olympian and professional cyclist, suggested the program to the school who eagerly accepted.

The teachers taught a variety of both theoretical and practical lessons.
The students then celebrated the week by visiting the local velodrome, and enjoyed plying their skills on the race track.

Bathurst Public School hosted its first ever bike safety week.

With over 600 students at the school, they decided that Stage 1 students would 'road test' the activities in class and through outdoor, skill based cycling activities on their oval.

The week was so successful the school's looking at ways to expand it next year to include all students.

These weeks are a wonderful opportunity to engage your whole school community.

Whether it's:

• parents riding with the students or cooking the sausage sizzle
• bike mechanics helping children check their bikes
• local police officers providing support on the footpaths
• rural fire brigade members handing out water,

the energy and enthusiasm is infectious and helps spread the message that road safety is a shared responsibility.