CML promotes bicycle workshops and classes in city schools

Between the end of April and the beginning of June, there will be free cycle workshops and bicycle classes in several schools in the city of Lisbon. A pilot project, promoted by the City Council together with the association Cicloda.

Teaching students, teachers, parents, and school staff how to ride a bike in the city and giving them the tools to independently maintain their bikes are the objectives of a new municipal program that the Lisbon City Hall is launching in some of the city's schools, in a pilot format.

Between the end of April and the beginning of June, there will be bicycle classes and cycling workshops at EB1 Pualino Montezin the Olivaisin the EB1 Bairro de São Miguelin Alvaladein the EB2,3 of Telheirasin Lumiarand in the EB2,3 Paula Vicentein Bethlehem. The classes and workshops will take place over several days, according to the calendar below, and are open to the entire school community, which includes students, teachers, employees, and guardians.

To participate in workshops, no registration requiredJust show up on the day and time of the event with a bike to fix or learn to fix. For the classesis requested. filling out this form until April 26th or May 2nd, depending on the school. Both activities are entirely free of charge and promoted by the association CyclodaThe project is a partnership with the Lisbon City Hall, experienced in cycle workshops and bicycle classes.

The goal of the Lisbon City Council is to test the operation of these cycle workshops and bicycle driving classes in schools before eventually launching a wider program. On the workshops part, it is intended to train members of the school community in the most common mechanical issues (how to tune brakes, adjust the seat, and do basic bike maintenance) and provide the schools with tools to encourage the continuation of these cycle workshops after this municipal pilot project. In these cycle workshops, participants bring their bicycles, identify mechanical problems, and learn how to solve them on the spot, relying on the experience of other bike users.

In Lisbon, there are several cycle workshops promoted by the community. These are collaborative learning spaces about bicycle mechanics that take place in public space, often inorganically. One of the best known cyclo workshops is Cicloficina dos Anjos, promoted by Cicloda, which has a more formal structure, since it has a physical space on Rua de São Bento. But there are more informal cyclo workshops, like Cicloficina da FSCH, which is run by students from the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of NOVA University of Lisbon, or Cicloficina de Belém, promoted by mothers and fathers from EB1 Bairro do Restelo.

As for the urban bicycle driving classes, we intend to test a class model, having as a target audience: 2nd and 3rd grade students and their families, as well as teachers and school staff. In these classes, the goal is to teach and practice techniques for riding a bicycle in an urban environment, and to increase the students' autonomy and confidence in riding a bicycle on their daily commutes.

Questions and additional information can be obtained by mobilidadeescolar@cm-lisboa.pt.