Advice for daycare centers & schools

To ensure that children can behave safely and independently in road traffic, it is good for them to learn at an early age.

As part of the city's integrated climate protection concept, the Buchhügel elementary school was supported in a pilot project in close cooperation with the Offenbach Youth Traffic School with the "All about bicycles" mobility day for the 3rd grade in 2014 and the bicycle test for the 4th grade. The aim was to help the children learn to cycle more easily and to put this into practice in everyday life. Cycling to school is a particular concern.

The requirements for cycling are very high. Whether a child can actually ride a bike only becomes apparent in situations where they have to react quickly and correctly. As a general rule, most children do not develop the ability to ride a bike "properly" until they are 8 years old. At this age, they make a real leap in their development. This is why the cycling test is deliberately held towards the end of primary school.

All children who took part in the cycling training received a certificate. And it got even sportier: the best girl and the best boy in each class, who had performed particularly well during the entire cycling training, received a specially designed medal. Kleo, the Climate Protection Action mascot, was also delighted with the children's success.

In the previous school year, many children's motor problems were so severe that they were not allowed to ride in real traffic. There were also many children who could not ride a bike at all because they did not have the opportunity to practice (e.g. in the school playground) or did not have a bike to practice on.

Now, however, the first conclusion that can be drawn from the youth traffic school is that, thanks to the brand new traffic practice area inaugurated in May 2015 in the schoolyard of Buchhügel elementary school, there is no longer a child who cannot ride a bike. Only the complex multiple actions, such as simultaneously keeping/changing lanes while giving hand signals or looking behind, still cause slight difficulties.

Special thanks also go to the school management and teachers for their commitment and excellent cooperation.