Children's Bicycle Safety An information session for teachers, community leaders and parents

Introduction A child's first vehicle is a bicycle. But how do we teach children to use this vehicle? For most of us, our parents spent a weekend with us, running along side until that moment when we could balance on our own. The rest was up to us. Our attitudes toward the rules of the road and traffic skills evolved through practice and experience into a carefree, playful approach. We were under the impression that our bike was a toy like any other and, like most toys, our only responsibility was to put it away when we were done with it. We are now aware of the responsibilities and rights that accompany the use of the bicycle. In its early stages, this awareness focussed almost exclusively on "helmets and hand signals". This was an important step, but we are able to effectively introduce young people to the safe and legal ways that they can use their first vehicle, as a member of the traffic system. Child bicycle education programs provide basic cycling skills, an understanding of how traffic works, and an appreciation that cycling can provide a lifetime of transportation and enjoyment. The most immediate benefit is the improvement in the degree of safety that children will enjoy when riding their bikes. In addition, as children are introduced to the proper use of their first vehicles, the attitudes, knowledge and skills they gain can be directly applied later in life when they are learning to use a motor vehicle. This two-hour session is designed to help you instill in children the most important concepts of riding safely and stress the importance of proper bicycle care and traffic technique. In addition, you will have the opportunity to learn how to develop ongoing bicycle education programs in your community. Presentations are delivered by certified Canadian Cycling Association CAN-BIKE instructor. Key concepts introduced in the program Basic goals of the program are to introduce children to bicycle safety and traffic technique; to instill in children an acceptance of the value of bicycle safety; and to introduce educators and other adult leaders to the concepts of ongoing bicycle safety. Program Outline (two hours, including 15-minute break) Developing ongoing bicycle education and traffic awareness in children Characteristics of young cyclists (20 minutes): Children's risks and injuries How child cyclists differ from adults Preparing the cyclist (10 minutes): Wearing a helmet Choosing clothing Bicycle fit and check Assessing children's readiness (15 minutes): Basic skills: stopping and starting straight line riding shoulder checking traffic signs hand signals BREAK The bicycle as a vehicle - special rules for bicycles (10 minutes): MVPC Entering the roadway Riding on the right Handling intersections Alternatives to road riding Cycling hazards (10 minutes): Road hazards: loose surfaces, railroad tracks, road edge hazards, holes, sharp objects Traffic hazards: cyclist hazards, wrong-way riding, lane and direction changes, turning cars, parked cars Bicycle education programs (10 minutes): Bicycle rodeos WiseRider program CAN-BIKE program Instructor certification Risk management in bicycle education (15 minutes): Working with young cyclists Leading groups of cyclists Instructor qualifications, first aid Questions and wrap-up (15 minutes) Facility Requirements Meeting room with overhead projector and screen. There should be sufficient room at the front of the room for a bicycle demonstration.

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