RIDE Support Resources – Getting out the Door: A Different Perspective From the Bike

To explore seeing the world around us from the perspective of riding a bike

Riding a bike puts a person in the open air and at a sightline level that is different from walking or sitting in a car of bike. The pace of the journey also gives an opportunity to see and hear different things around you in the environment. Here are a few exercises to help appreciate a different perspective.

Exercise 1 – sounds

• As you are cycling along start listening for sounds that you wouldn’t normally hear if you were doing your journey by car or public transport.

• Name five sounds that you can hear.

• Listen for bird songs. See if you can identify 5 different ones.

Exercise 2 – colours

• Riding a bike slows down the pace of your travel.

• Make a note of five colours or patterns you see from cycling along.

• How many shades of each colour can you see?

Exercise 3 – wildlife

• See if you can see five different types or wildlife.

• If you are in a more urban area see if you can identify five different types of bird.

Exercise 4 – a new Level

• Looking around at bike level. Find five things that you have never noticed before if you weren’t riding a bike.