The Fenwick School pupil’s new purchase will come in handy as her school takes part in the new On Ya Bike programme, rolled out in Oamaru yesterday.
"My old bike was rusty and the brakes didn’t work so I needed a new one," the 9-year-old said.
On Ya Bike is a programme to teach children the importance of bike safety, and maintaining a distance of 1.5m between bikes and cars on the road.
Founder Adair Craik has created characters, stickers and posters to teach children the rules, which will be taught by Oamaru police community officer senior constable Carrie Hamilton during the school’s bike safety week.
Snr Const Hamilton was one of the characters created, and if children learnt all the rules, they earned her sticker.
Ms Craik worked on the project for two years and recognised the need for further knowledge through competing in triathlons.
"It was initially about getting kids educated about biking.
"Cycling is such a beautiful recreation for kids to do by themselves, or with their parents."
Children were the drivers of the future and if they understood the rules, cyclists would be safer.
Waitaki District Council road safety co-ordinator Jason Evered was impressed with the programme and said it delivered a serious safety message in a fun way for children.
On Ya Bike was funded by the Oamaru Rotary Club, Waitaki District Council, Otago Community Trust Foundation and The Lion Foundation.
