IBD teaches kids importance of safety checks

Paignton Community and Sports College are benfitting from weekly cycle safety check thanks to Simply The Bike.

The retailer has set up a program in which 260 year seven pupils are taught a basic saefty procedure known as the ‘M’ check.

To date over 130 eleven to twelve years olds have been through the 50 minute session, which covers the basic mechanical safety of cycles and importance of personal safety equipment (Helmets, lights and reflectives etc)

The store owners, John Lewis and Donna Ryan close on Frdiay afternoons for the final two business hours to give the 50 minute sessions.

The M check is demonstrated and the pupils are asked why each point is important. They are then split into teams, given a picture of their allocated bike, asked to pick a team name and appoint a team captain. The teams are then given 10 minutes to M check their bike. At the end of this time the team Captain is asked to show the rest of the class what faults the team had identified with the bike.

Commentating on the sessions Lucy Cocker (Head of Year 7, Paignton Community and Sports College) said,
"Through Fabulous Friday sessions with Year 7, Simply the Bike has inspired and engaged pupils in bicycle safety. Pupils have learnt about the ‘M Check’ and were given the opportunity to put the theory into practice as bicycles with deliberate faults were brought in for them to check. The pupils remained focused throughout and have put their new knowledge to use on bicycles at home. This session with John and Donna has been invaluable and I’d like to thank them for their time given to the pupils."