Cycling - Environment

Cycling activities will generally be conducted on minor roads and tracks in a diverse range of environments.  Where roads and tracks are in relatively undisturbed areas, they offer the opportunity to study unique flora and fauna.  These areas require sensitive use and management.  Roadside vegetation is particularly vulnerable to soil compaction and damage to flora, which can have long-lasting effects.  

When preparing for cycling activities, staff should consider ways to minimise the environmental impact of the activity.  Further information is available at Environment.

Location

The choice of location should be based on the recent and first-hand knowledge of at least one member of the planning and supervising staff.  Where this is impractical, planning and supervising staff should be thoroughly familiar with the general characteristics and conditions found in similar locations, and should have consulted with people who can provide recent and first-hand knowledge of the locations being considered.

When assessing the suitability of a location, consider:

•  the potential to support the educational objectives
• the level of access to resources, services and facilities that may be needed, such as campsites, water, walking trails, toilets, shelter from extreme weather, or interpretive information
• the level of access to communications and external assistance in the event of an emergency or extreme weather conditions — the more remote the location is, the more self-contained and self-reliant the group must be and this must be taken into account in the planning of the activity
• the potential exposure to environmental hazards and difficulties
• the ability and fitness levels of students.

Contact with relevant authorities should be made in order to access current information and determine any access and permit requirements.

These authorities may include:

• Emergency services
• Parks Victoria or other land managers
• Department of Sustainability and Environment
• Marine Safety Victoria

Staff need to be aware that severe weather conditions may develop before or during the proposed activity and should be prepared to cancel, modify or relocate the activity at any time.

Staff should have a thorough knowledge of the route to be covered and document any potential hazards and communicate them to students.  When determining the route, consider the:

• age and experience of the group
• possible traffic conditions
• intersections on the route
• gradients on the route
• possible road and weather conditions.

Where possible, designated bicycle paths should be used in preference to public roads.

For safety reasons, students should finish riding before dusk.

Communication

The communication strategy should enable staff to receive weather forecasts and warnings, communicate with the school, and engage support in the case of an incident or emergency.

• Choose communication equipment based on current communication technology and the location of the activity.
• Develop a communication strategy for the group during the activity which enables communication with outside parties, including the school and emergency services.
• Be aware of the limitations of the communication strategy.

Where support vehicles are used, drivers of the vehicles must have a means of communicating with the cycling group.

Weather

Weather forecasts should be obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Weather conditions can change rapidly.  Monitor and assess the weather throughout the activity and be prepared to cancel, modify or relocate at any time.

Weather warning telephone services

• Coastal, Land Weather and Flood Warnings on 1300 659 217
• Full State Telephone Weather Service on 1900 955 363 (call charge applies)
• Coastal Waters Telephone Service on 1900 969 930 (call charge applies)
• Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.

The above telephone numbers may be useful to have available during the excursion.

Web links

Transportation

The transportation of groups to and from activity locations must be carefully considered and planned; see Excursion Support – Transport.