Rolling Tigers is about bikes and riding safely. You'll check your bike, learn what gear to wear, practice hand signals, and ride or start learning to ride. Safe riders can explore farther.
Why it's worth it
A bike can take you farther and faster than your feet. In Rolling Tigers you'll learn to check your bike, wear the right gear, follow the rules, and use hand signals like a real rider. If you're just learning to ride, that counts too. These skills will help you ride safely with your family on paths and trails for years.
Start this week
- With your adult, squeeze your bike tires and check if they feel firm.
- Put on your helmet and check it in a mirror: it should sit level, just above your eyebrows.
- Practice the hand signals for left, right, and stop while standing in your driveway or yard.
Stay safe
- Wear a properly fitted helmet every ride: snug, level, and buckled, with the straps forming a V under each ear.
- Tigers ride with an adult watching, away from busy streets.
Requirements · 5
Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab).
- Requirement 1
Learn the bike ABCs: air, brakes, chain
Tip: With your adult, check the air in the tires, squeeze the brakes, and look at the chain.
For example: Do the ABC check: A for air, press the tires to see if they're firm; B for brakes, squeeze them and push the bike to see if it stops; C for chain, look to see that it's on and not rusty.
- Requirement 2
With your den or adult partner, learn what safety gear to wear when riding a bike
Tip: Try on your helmet and make sure it fits snugly. Talk about other gear like closed-toe shoes.
- Requirement 3
With your den or adult partner, learn the safety rules for riding a bike
Tip: Learn a few rules with your adult, like riding where you're allowed and watching for cars.
For example: Rules to learn: wear a helmet every time, ride where your adult says, ride on the right side going the same way as traffic, stop and look at driveways, and keep both hands on the handlebars.
- Requirement 4
With your den or adult partner, show the correct bike hand signals
Tip: Practice the hand signals for left, right, and stop while standing, then while riding slowly.
For example: Left turn: stick your left arm straight out. Right turn: bend your left arm up at the elbow, or stick your right arm straight out. Stop: bend your left arm down at the elbow, palm back.
- Requirement 5
Ride a bike, or start learning to ride, with your adult partner or family
Tip: Ride in a safe space like a park path or empty lot, or practice balancing if you're just starting.
For example: If you can ride, do laps around an empty lot or park path. If you're learning, try a balance bike, or lower the seat so your feet touch and glide with your feet up.
Talk about it together
- What did you find when you did your bike's ABC check?
- Which hand signal is the trickiest to do while riding?
- Where is your favorite place to ride, and why is it safe?
- What bike skill do you want to get better at next?
Helpful reads
For leaders & parents
- Hold a bike rodeo in a closed parking lot with simple cone courses.
- Ask a parent who rides often or a local bike shop to show bike checks.
People & places that can help
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (opens in a new tab) — Bike safety and helmet tips.
- Local bike shop — Can help check helmet and bike fit.
- Local police department — Some host bike safety events for kids.
- Rolling Tigers adventure page (opens in a new tab) — Den activities for bike checks, hand signals, and riding.
- Safe Kids Worldwide (opens in a new tab) — Helmet fitting and bike safety tips for families.
- KidsHealth (opens in a new tab) — Kid-friendly bike safety articles from Nemours.
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Into this? Explore more
Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.