Active School Travel Worksheet 4 - Crossing the Road the Roadstar Way

Worksheet #4 Riding to school the Roadstar way

Question: What's the difference between riding a bike to school and being driven in a car?

Answer: When you ride a bike, it's a free workout for your heart, lungs and leg muscles, it saves four car trips (to and from school) and it's fun! Roadstar's secret plan

Before he turned 10, Roadstar's parents wouldn’t let him ride to school by himself. So, on his 10th birthday, Roadstar made a secret plan. If everything went according to his plan, he would convince Mum and Dad to change their minds. This is what Roadstar did:

 He learnt all the road rules and hand signals, including the bits that said you MUST wear a helmet  He made sure his helmet fitted properly  He checked that his bike tyres and brakes were safe to use, his bell and reflectors were working and lifted the seat to the correct height  He found FREE bike maps on the web at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and using this and his Active School Travel map, worked out a safe way to get to school, using bikeways and footpaths.

After doing this, he asked his Mum and Dad if he could ride to school, but they had questions. "Are you sure you know the way?" "Will you be careful?" "How do we know you’ll watch for traffic?" "Will you be safe?"

Roadstar thought this might happen, so he put the second part of his plan into action. This is what he did. He practiced riding the route with his Mum or Dad. Then he arranged to ride to school, in single file on the footpath, with his mates. Then he asked Mum and Dad to watch him ride to school a few more times. They agreed! Roadstar’s plan had worked! Roadstar's tips for parents

 Children under 10 should only ride to school with an adult  check the route is safe and regularly check it to see if conditions have changed  stress the importance of wearing helmets, riding responsibly and in single file  help with regular bike maintenance.

Brisbane City Council encourages everyone to use our bikeways and shared pathways and encourages an active, healthy and connected Brisbane. It’s good for you and the environment. Ask your parents

Question: Ask your parents where your family could cycle together this weekend.

Answer: Test your bike sense!

Circle the correct answer.

1. Before riding to school, you should check: a. your tyres and brakes b. your lights c. your seat belt. 2. Your helmet should: a. fit securely on your head b. be well-ventilated c. match your uniform. 3. You can ride: a. single file b. double file c. triple file. 4. This sign:

a. means to stop and give way to all traffic b. means to slow down and look for cars c. is only for drivers. 5. You must always have: a. both hands on the handlebars except when signaling b. one hand on the handlebars c. one hand in your pocket. 6. You should follow other bicycles: a. no closer than two bike lengths b. about one or two metres behind c. following any ice cream trucks. 7. This is someone:

a. signaling to stop b. signaling to turn right c. waving to friends. 8. When you get to school: a. walk your bike through the school grounds b. ride your bike through the school grounds c. do your homework. 9. Leave your bike: a. locked at a bike rack b. under a tree c. by a bowl of water in case it gets thirsty.

Answers: Mostly A – you're a bike riding champ! Mostly B – you're not too bad. Mostly C – off the track! Brisbane has more than 1000km of bikeways and you may ride on footpaths provided you give way to pedestrians.

Unscramble and name these bike parts

Brisbane City Council Information GPO Box 1434 Brisbane Qld 4001 For more information visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call (07) 3403 8888