Good practice:

Experiential training of kids on the safe cycling and walking

The training programme comprises a short course on safe cycling and walking and is addressed to kids of primary and secondary school age. It is offered outdoors, usually in an empty public or private space (e.g. yard, park, square), where a "traffic educational park" is applied temporarily, in-situ, and on-demand by using proper educational plastic traffic material equipment.
The experiential course includes two components. The first one focuses on information provision to kids before they enter the "educational park", e.g. proper usage of helmets, interpretation of traffic signs, tips for bicycle usage, etc. The second one concerns the practical exercise of the trainees on cycling and walking following the traffic rules and signs and being guided by the trainers.
Apart from the "traffic park", the setting includes also an information desk for the activities of registration and certificates awarded, and an open kiosk to accommodate the theoretical part of the lesson.
Kids are called to bring their own bike and helmet; however, some pieces of multiple sizes are brought by the organizer for any case. Upon completion of the training, participants are awarded a ‘Cyclist Diploma’.
The primary goals of the training are the prevention of accidents and the encouragement of active mobility, promoting a sustainable and healthy lifestyle that can be integrated into daily life.
The physical presence of parents on the spot is encouraged to increase their awareness on active mobility.

The action requires some material equipment (plastic traffic cones, signs, etc.) and trainers and/or volunteers on the field (5-6 persons). Also, resources are required for the preparation and dissemination of the event (i.e. flyers, short information material, certificates, social media, etc.).

According to the expert, Mr. Athanasios Skordas:
The participation was higher than the initial target: 211 kids of 6-14 years old attended.
The Mayor of Ampelokipi-Menemeni visited the action, expressing his willingness to expand it further.
The majority of kids were migrants, so the course contributed, also, to their integration into the local urban life.
The action is based on a similar initiative of Podilatiki Apo-Drasi that is approved by the National Institute of Education Policy.

The wind can drop the traffic components of the temporal park, thus special weights are needed to stabilize all pieces.
For security reasons, the presence of some rescuers is desired and the written consent of parents is required.

The training has been designed and offered in the Municipality of Ampelokipi-Menemeni of the city of Thessaloniki by the NGO ‘ENODIA - Experiential Training in Safe Mobility’, building on the past similar experience of an urban cyclists’ association ‘Podilatiki Apo-Drasi of Pieria’ (from Katerini City in Greece). In this sense, it comprises an example of knowledge and practice transfer towards direct consultation and mobility behavioural change in favour of sustainable modes.
There is a great potential of being transferred to other cities and towns across Europe, especially in cases where cycling does not comprise a popular mean of transport and the training infrastructure is missing or limited.
Since there is no need for a permanent traffic park, the concept of this experiential training can be also adopted by any school, applying it in the frame of its typical curriculum or its extra educational activities (e.g. education clubs on thematic topics).