By Tate Papworth
The Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre has unveiled two new bike-learning tracks which organisers believe are an Australian-first teaching aid.
The $60,000 tracks – dubbed Rotary and Lions after the clubs of the same name – were officially opened last weekend.
Taylors Lakes Lions Club president Neil Hunichen said both tracks would serve the community well for many years to come.
“Rotary is a flat track, shaped as a large figure eight,” he said.
“It’s about slow riding. Children need to build confidence and that’s definitely achievable on a flat track.
“They can motor and glide along the track and develop their skills in steering and respect at the junctures where you have to give way.”
However it’s the Lions track that Mr Hunichen says is a new concept.
“The Lions track is an incline. It’s a 25 to 30 metre track with a gradient that allows the child to go down a slope,” he said.
“When they get down to the bottom if they’re not controlling the bike, they go off into a safe grass area.
“But if they are, they cruise along the bottom, they come uphill.”
The major point of difference is the use of balance bikes.
A balance bike is a training bike that helps children learn balance and steering.
They have no foot pedals, no drivetrain, no chain, no gears and no gear shifters.
Mr Hunichen said teaching children to balance on a bike first was a logical step.
“It’s a different way of going about it. We haven’t seen another track like it.
“I could say honestly, in Australia there’s nothing like this.”
