Bicycle Playgrounds

Bicycling is a great avenue to outdoor adventure, but how does one get kids these days to learn how to ride their bikes safely? Denmark has taken the lead with bicycle playgrounds. The idea developed out of organized games like follow-the-leader, tag and obstacle course. The bicycle playground is mostly based upon the obstacle course game.

A mobile version was constructed as a pilot project in 2011 and now 10 permanent bicycle playgrounds will be constructed across the country. The pilot playground was constructed on a hard surface and include pathways made of different materials, seesaws to ride over, rocking paths, various low obstacles, soft spots and other challenges that allow even the smallest kids to practice maneuvering their bikes.

A bicycle playground allows kids to practice and experiment with their bikes in an environment that is much less controlled than the organized games approach.  This way kids can improve at their own pace and have fun playing without even realizing they are preparing themselves for life-long enjoyment of bicycling.

Here’s a video that will give you an idea of how it works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51jY5hZ0cnk

If you can’t see the video, try this link to www.youtube.com/watch?v=51jY5hZ0cnk

Seems like a good idea to me. What do you think?

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