Organizing Bicycle Safety in Your Community: Two-day Workshop for Community Leaders and Volunteers

Training workshop for leaders and organizers of bicycle safety events, including courses, rodeos and educational campaigns. The workshop presents an overview of safe riding practices applicable to all cyclists, characteristics particular to child cyclists, causes of child cyclist injuries and the skills that child cyclists must develop if they are to prevent injury. Introduction A child's first vehicle is a bicycle. There are responsibilities and rights that accompany the use of the bicycle. To many people, this means "helmets and hand signals". This is an important step, but it is important 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 experience 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-day workshop 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. 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 instructors. This workshop is designed for use by anyone interested in encouraging bicycle safety: • schools. • recreation and leisure departments. • public institutions. • health-care and injury control organizations. • law enforcement agencies. • traffic professionals. • community associations. • service clubs. • volunteers. Goals and Objectives The Goal for the training is: • To equip participants with skills and resources to properly educate children and youth in bicycle safety. The Objectives are: • To increase knowledge of risks and hazards of bicycling. • To provide participants with information they can use to organize an event in their community. • To provide participants with information to allow them to teach basic bicycle safety to children and youth. Follow-Up Participants who are interested in providing comprehensive skills to children, youth or adults are encouraged to complete a CAN-BIKE Skills II course and instructor certification. Workshop Outline Day One Morning Session Characteristics of young cyclists: Children's risks and injuries How child cyclists differ from adult Preparing the cyclist: Wearing a helmet Choosing clothing Bicycle fit and check Assessing children's readiness: Basic skills: stopping and starting straight line riding shoulder checking traffic signs hand signals The bicycle as a vehicle - special rules for bicycles: MVPC Entering the roadway Riding on the right Handling intersections Alternatives to road riding Cycling hazards: 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 car Bicycle education programs: Bicycle rodeos WiseRider program CAN-BIKE program Instructor certification Risk management in bicycle education: Working with young cyclists Leading groups of cyclists Instructor qualifications, first aid Questions and wrap-up Afternoon Session Description and Overview Introduction Description of Canadian Cycling Association and Provincial Cycling Association Description of the Kids CAN-BIKE Festival Description of the Kids CAN~BIKE Course Overview and Rationale of CAN-BIKE Program How to Teach Courses Why Kids Participate How Children Learn What Are Children's Capabilities and Limitations Video: Kids Eye View Your Role as an instructor Instructional Considerations and Techniques giving feedback building confidence and self-esteem managing the group setting clear expectations, giving accurate instructions Risk Management Teaching Demonstration (Outside) With Bikes in a Playground or Parking Lot Administration Course Administration How to Set Up A Course Coordinator' s Role Instructor's Role Volunteers' Roles Time Lines Check List Day Two Morning Session Rules of the Road Preparation Clothing Helmet Accessories Bike Check Bike Rodeo Afternoon Session On-Bike Practice Practice ride through neighbourhoods typically used by children Discussion and Wrap-up Instructors: Nationally certified CAN-BIKE instructors, all experienced cyclists, teach the workshop. Participant requirements: Communities are encouraged to seek highly motivated individuals who can combine leadership with enthusiasm and a desire to succeed. This course is ideal for health-care, law enforcement, injury control and traffic professionals and community volunteers. A bicycle in safe operating condition. Bicycle helmet. A waiver must be signed before riding in the course. For participants under 18 years of age, the waiver must be signed by a parent before the child may ride in the course. For ages 16 and older. Maximum 12 participants. Facility requirements: Classroom: classroom or meeting room with desks or tables, overhead projector and screen, VHS videotape player and television, whiteboard or chalkboard. There should be sufficient room at the front of the room for a bicycle demonstration. Outdoor session: Flat, hard-packed surface free of traffic, such as a large parking lot or blocked-off street. On-bike session: conventional streets and roads as normally found in the community. For more information: Borealis Outdoor Adventure 3120 8th Street East #106-305 Saskatoon, SK S7H 0W2 Phone: (306) 343-6399 or 1-800-463-6399 CAN-BIKE Hotline Phone: (306) 978-BIKE (978-2453) or Toll-Free: 1-888-CAN-BIKE (1-888-226-2453) Return to CAN-BIKE index page

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