Bike Skills Course aims to get women on to two wheels

A free bike riding course catering especially for women is being offered across three weekends in November and December.

The three-week Women’s Bike Skills Course will be run from 9 am to 10.30 am on Sunday 24 November, 1 December and 8 December 2024 at McCallum Park in Victoria Park.

The course is designed for ‘rusty’ riders and will enable women to connect and support each other on their bike riding journey.

The course will start off with preparations for bike riding, including making sure your bike is roadworthy and basic bike maintenance.

It will then move to refreshing your bike riding skills, including braking, balancing, cornering and one-handed riding, and riding in a group.

The course will also look at how to manage hazards and obstacles, before exploring the local bike paths and trails, culminating in supported ride of various distances on the final weekend.

The course is being delivered by the Department of Transport in collaboration with the Town of Victoria Park and Cycle Sense.

The Women’s Bike Skills Course is part of the Armadale Line Active Travel project, which is using the Armadale Line shutdown to encourage people to discover more active ways to travel for short trips, instead of driving.

The project supports and encourages people to walk, wheel and ride for local trips such as school, shops and to bus stations during the shutdown period.

Department of Transport Director of Active Transport Michelle Prior said surveys of bike riding among females was showing positive trends.

“Of people who are new or returning to bike riding, 71 per cent of these riders were female,” Michelle said.

“While this is showing a positive shift, data consistently shows females are considerably less likely to ride than males, so we’re keen to encourage women to ride, in a comfortable and friendly environment.

“With the new Boorloo Bridge opening at the end of this year, these women won’t be ‘rusty’ riders any longer and they’ll be ready to ride across the bridge which has been purpose-built for walking, wheeling and riding,” she added.

Registration for the Women’s Bike Skills Course is essential.

Secure your spot

Participants must be able to ride a two-wheeled bike, should bring their own helmet and are encouraged to ride their own bike to the events. If attendees don’t have their own, Cycle Sense will have a limited supply of bikes and helmets that can be provided on request.