Cheap and free to use, the bicycle is often the first “vehicle” of young people. Every morning, middle school students get on their bikes, schoolbags on their backs, to reach their school. There were 7.8% of them in Marguerite…
Inexpensive and free to use, the bicycle is often the first “vehicle” of young people. Every morning, middle school students get on their bikes, schoolbags on their backs, to reach their school. They were 7.8% in Marguerite-Duras during the 2022/2023 school year. “We gained 1% in two years”, says Jean-Louis Michaux, deputy director in charge of Segpa and “Knowing how to ride a bike” project referent. A Departmental scheme which, via a call for projects, allows middle schools to introduce students to the basics of road safety at cyclist level. A project in line with the community’s desire to create a cycle path on the last three kilometers of these establishments.
Linda Douifi
The Marguerite-Duras college relied on the expertise of the Libournavélo association
Thus, on Wednesday June 26, around 25 sixth grade students received their diploma in knowing how to ride a bike. From November to June, everyone attended cycle school sessions and mechanical workshops to learn how to repair a puncture, remove a wheel or even adjust their brakes. Learning provided by Michel Villain, from the Libournavélo association, in conjunction with college teachers.
An education
“There were really kids who were hooked, especially in the mechanical workshops where we had up to 55 participants because they were open to all students. Some had never touched a tool and loved it,” says Michel Villain. Two-hour outdoor outings also took place. “Encouraging cycling is a good idea but it requires education because the road is sometimes the jungle,” believes Jean-Louis Michaux, at the origin of the project. However, only the sixth graders took advantage of these scenarios. “The idea is to raise awareness among the sixth graders each year so that, in a few years, all students will be able to benefit from it,” relates the project referent.
The school year thus ended in style with these diploma ceremonies, around ten days after the gala presented by all the students of the artistic sections (music class, theater club, living arts systems, etc.) at the Liburnia theater.
