Staff from the Fall River Boys & Girls Club, the Fall River Police Department and members of the Fall River Bicycle Committee had the opportunity to learn how best to teach young riders how to ride bicycles safely at the Fall River Police Station on March 21, 2014. Kim Niedermeir of MassBike covered the basic set of instructions that should be included when teaching young riders and suggested a number of ways of teaching beginner skills. Following the classroom education, the group went outside to actually practice some of the skills that Niedermeir taught them using simple equipment. "This was a great opportunity to learn from the experts," commented Fall River Mass In Motion Coordinator Julianne Kelly who sponsored the event. Participants will be involved in offering bicycle safety education to children over the summer months. Julianne Kelly was on hand to support the project. Click here for an ten-minute video of the training. Click here for photos of a bicycle helmet give-away at Talbot Middle School. For more information about the project, contact Julianne Kelly at 508-324-2405.

(Top row) MassBike Program Coordinator Kim Niedermeir goes over some of the basics of how to teach young people bicycle safety in the community room of the Fall River Police Department. (Row two) Mark Falcon of Bike Fall River offers some suggestions as Bruce Souza of Fall River Bike Advocates and  Fall River Police Officer Matt Silvia listen. (Row three) Fall River Mass In Motion Coordinator Julianne Kelly discusses some of the possibilities for teaching children to ride safely before Ms. Niedermeir dons a helmet and prepares to take the group outside. (Row four, left) Boys and Girls Club staff members Monica Tavares and Peter McCarthy watch as Adam Coderre puts some air into one of his tires. (Row four, center and right) Kim goes over some instructions as Fall River School Adjustment Counselor Robin Thorpe and Julie Kelly listen and answers a question from Mark. (Bottom row) Kim demonstrates a simple course and then has Monica and the others try it out.