Young people with disabilities are finding a place to build skills and confidence on a bicycle with Balance before Pedals Ride On [B4P Ride On].
Private lessons are being offered by B4P at the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre at the Green Gully Reserve in Keilor Downs.
B4P co-ordinator Neil Hunichen has more than 50 years experience as a cyclist and is an accredited VicRoads bicycle educator instructor.
He is also the vice president of the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre and has been a volunteer there for almost 10 years.
Mr Hunichen said he has a passion for teaching young people about bicycle safety, which stems from his 25 years of experience as a State Emergency Service volunteer.
“I saw an awful lot of road trauma,” he said.
“All I want to do in my life now is teach children respect, road safety, and how to ride a bike.”
Mr Hunichen found that when he set up his private lessons, most of the people signing up were young people with disabilities.
He said he is passionate about the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre, but his private lessons grew out of extra community demand, and also a burn out from volunteering.
Mr Hunichen said the non-for-profit centre’s education services should qualify them for more government support.
He said council has recently been helping more with maintenance, but the organisation is stressed by COVID closures, and a February break-in which Star Weekly previously reported cost the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre over $15,000.
Liam McNally
