Cycle Safely Programme

A participant of the Cycle Safely programme maneuvering his bike over a slalom of tyres and then tackling a line of makeshift speed breakers during the campaign. Participants gearing up for the challenge; a rider trying to keep his balance on a narrow track; and them tacking the barrier of tyres.   The Star Saturday October 22, 2005 Have riding helmet, will cycle By SYLVIA LOOI ROUNDABOUTS, zebra crossings and yellow boxes are traffic terms all too familiar to many road users.  But these may be new to some of the schoolchildren in Cameron High-lands.  Three hundred pupils, from 11 schools in Cameron Highlands, were picked to participate in a road safety programme themed ‘Cycle Safely’.  They were taught traffic signs, the correct way to cycle and defensive riding during the event organised by the Malaysian Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MVFRA) at the Brinchang parking lots.  Johnson and Johnson Medical-Asia Pacific fleet safety manager Stefan Phang using a watermelon to demonstrate the gruesome consequences of not wearing a helmet. Balasupramaniam showing the correct way to wear a riding helmet during the "Cycle Safely' programme. Volunteers from the association also showed the children the correct way of wearing a bicycle helmet, which each of the participants received after they passed the ‘tests’ under the programme.  Association chairman K. Balasupra-maniam said the programme was aimed at inculcating road safety awareness among young children and to encourage them to wear riding helmets.  “As most of the children who cycle to school lack road safety awareness, the programme is aimed at educating them,” he said.  He added that each school chose about 30 pupils for the programme.  “The purpose is to create ‘peer pressure’ among the children so that they will wear a helmet whenever they cycle,” he said.  One of the participants Farhan Iskandar Shafie, eight, of SK Convent, said he had fun going through the programme as it was an eye-opening experience.  “I learnt how to ride my bicycle safely,” the Year Two pupil added.   SK Convent senior assistant (co-curriculum) Norizan Ahmad, who gave the programme the thumbs up, said this was the first time the school was taking part in the programme.  “It is a beneficial event as it teaches the children about practising safe riding while on the road,” she said.