Photos: Waad Barakat

Children in Dubai can now learn about road safety and learn how to ride their bikes responsibly at their own ‘driving school’. It’s part of a road safety program for children, called ‘Go With The Floooow’, launched on November 3.

The initiative aims to raise awareness among children aged three and over about road safety but also about the importance of a fun and healthy lifestyle through cycling.

Children who complete the program can earn a “driver’s license” after collecting five stamps, each representing a lesson learned.

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As families gathered for the inaugural event held at Ripe Market in Umm Sequim, the excitement was palpable as children traveled the course, learning how to navigate simulated traffic situations, stop at signs and even to disguise themselves as police officers to lead their peers.

The “driving school” included interactive stations such as a pretend police station where children could role-play and a fake electric vehicle charging station to spark their interest in sustainability. A cleaning station was also available, where young participants could practice washing their bikes, mixing play and practical skills.

The program is priced at Dh60 per child for a 20-minute session, with discounts available for siblings.

Among the participants were Suzanne and Martijn Boelens, parents of two young participants. Suzanne said Khaleej Schedule how their children, aged seven and four, couldn’t wait to collect their stamps. “It’s important for us to teach them bicycle safety, like we did in the Netherlands. They really like it and want to get their license.”

Martijn added: “The kids learn from each other, which is great. It’s not just about racing, it’s about raising awareness.”

The program’s founder, Barbara Koenen-Geerdink, left her career in business law in February to pursue this exciting project aimed at strengthening road safety education for children. “I wanted to create something meaningful,” she said.

“When I saw my own children riding bikes, I realized the importance of teaching them road safety. There is a gap here and I wanted to fill it.”

Barbara is also the author of a children’s storybook featuring a little girl named Rosie and her adventure on a bob bike. This captivating story is part of its broader vision to integrate storytelling into road safety education. Barbara’s journey to establishing the program required collaboration with various stakeholders, which took three months to finalize. “When I reached out, I found incredible support,” she noted. “Having that support has been vital.”

For the future, Barbara hopes to expand the program to schools and dreams of creating her own school dedicated to road safety education. “This initiative allows me to give back to the community while having a real impact. Seeing the children engaged and enthusiastic fills my heart with pride.

With future plans to expand the program across the GCC, Barbara’s vision is clear: to develop a generation of young cyclists who are road-savvy and able to enjoy the outdoors safely.

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Waad Barakat

Waad Barakat is a special correspondent who covers security topics from law enforcement to local courts. With a keen eye for human interest stories, she hopes to mix it all up with unique Gen Z-inspired content.