Kids CAN-BIKE Program Information for Host Communities and Agencies Kids CAN-BIKE Festival and Kids CAN-BIKE Course   Introduction With Kids CAN-BIKE, young cyclists get high-quality instruction in safe cycling skills. The Canadian Cycling Association developed Kids CAN-BIKE to meet national standards for children's bicycle safety training. Training is essential. One in five children killed in motor vehicle collisions is a cyclist 5 - 14 years of age.   Kids CAN-BIKE Kids CAN-BIKE helps cyclists aged 8 to 13. By the time they are in this age group, children are riding on their own. They need to stay safe and feel confident about operating their bicycles as vehicles. Kids CAN-BIKE is part of the CAN-BIKE Program, established as the standard for bicycle education across Canada. Police, paramedics and other professional bicycle patrols use CAN-BIKE as their basic road safety course. More and more school boards require teachers who take children on bicycle trips to gain CAN-BIKE certification. As well, many municipalities insist bicycle couriers complete a CAN-BIKE course before they are issued with their licence.   Why Kids CAN-BIKE is different Trained and certified instructors Geared to developmental capabilities of children Meets injury prevention priorities Promote cycling skills training throughout childhood Encourages on-road training Covers equipment, handling skills and traffic decision-making Realistic expectations about training and bike safety Nationally recognized program Two courses Kids CAN-BIKE Festival Kids CAN-BIKE Course The goal of the Canadian Cycling Association is for each child to complete the Kids CAN-BIKE Course before they leave elementary school. The Festival is a way of introducing children, parents and communities to the Kids CAN-BIKE Program. Kids CAN-BIKE Festival The Kids CAN-BIKE Festival is an adaptable playground-based event for children 8 to 13 years of age. An instructor takes a group of six children through a 75 to 90 minute program. It is ideal for a community or in-school event. Children learn about safe equipment (helmet and bike) and four key bicycle handling skills during the Festival.   Kids CAN-BIKE Course The Kids CAN-BIKE Course (also known as Cycle Right) is a 10 hour course for children 9 to 13 years of age. No bicycle education program is complete without on-road training, where children can develop an understanding of the real application of their choices in traffic. The bicycle is a vehicle and is best operated on the road. The Kids CAN-BIKE Course provides a structured method for children to graduate to on-road riding. The Kids CAN-BIKE Course teaches children how traffic works, the rules of the road, and how cycling fits in. It teaches children about safe equipment, bicycle maintenance, safe bicycle handling skills, and good cycling practices and traffic decision-making. Instruction takes place in the classroom, on the playground and on residential streets in a series of lessons that allow children to experience success and safe, confident cycling.   Creating a sustainable program in your community There are two key elements to making the Kids CAN-BIKE Program a success in your community: Having a host agency that can do the administrative and promotional work. Having trained instructors who are energetic and enthusiastic. Host Agency The host agency provides a home for the Kids CAN-BIKE Program. Each community will have its own host agency. Cycling clubs and organizations, injury prevention coalitions such as a SAFE-KIDS Canada affiliate, public health agencies, parks and recreation departments, community centres, summer sports camps, the police service, environmental groups, after school programs, service clubs, and many other organizations make ideal candidates for host agencies. The Kids CAN-BIKE Program is flexible enough to be accommodated in each of these settings.   Training It is important to identify people early who are willing to be trained. They should have the time and interest to take the training and to instruct in the spring and summer. They should also have an interest in cycling. Instructor candidates in your community may include local cycling club members, university students (especially in physical education, education, or nursing), teachers, public health professionals and service club members. Host Agency Responsibilities Define your role (e.g. on-going part of your agency's activities, developing capacity to conduct the program among other people in the community). Decide what kind of program you want in the first year (e.g. Festival only, targeted age groups). Decide your program schedule. Set up your instructor training needs.   Logistics Planning  Establish steering committee.  Notify provincial cycling association.  Develop time line, task list and budget. Training  Develop your local partners.  Find your instructor candidates.  Schedule training.  Confirm travel and accommodation plans for your instructor trainer if one is not available locally.  Be present at the beginning of the training course to make introductions and take care of last minute logistics. Scheduling  Decide on courses to be taught.  Develop schedule.  Confirm locations that meet course criteria.  Discuss with youth agencies, schools, scouts and guides, and community groups about participating in the Festival or Course.  Encourage pre-registration.  Following instructor training, confirm instructor roster for courses.  Re-confirm instructor and location logistics on week before event. Marketing  Develop flyer with course dates, locations and costs.  Develop pre-registration form.  Get course information published in recreation department/community centre listings.  Ensure that key people in your community are aware of the program.  Take advantage of word of mouth.  Develop and distribute a media release. Course delivery coordination  Assign responsibilities among instructors and volunteers.  Contact helmet supplier (if applicable).  Contact bike mechanic and arrange for supply of bike parts (if applicable).  Confirm with barbeque organizers time, place and numbers expected (if applicable).  Confirm details with other groups and sponsors involved.   Special notes for Kids CAN-BIKE Festivals Community-based Festival  Because each instruction cycle takes 90 minutes, you will find that you can comfortably run three cycles in one day. The number of children you want to have participate will determine how many instructors you need. Conversely, the number of instructors you have available will determine how many children can participate. In setting your schedule, consider lunch breaks for instructors. Instruction is intensive, so they will need a break. School-based Festival  A school-based Kids CAN-BIKE Festival must fit into the rhythm of the school day. Typically, you will have half a day to run your festival. Given the average size of most school yards, you will be able to run four teaching sites, in which case you should expect to be able to accommodate one average size class, or parts of several classes. Target grades four and five first.   Volunteers Instruction (for ages 8 - 13)  Trained Kids CAN-BIKE Instructors  4 - 6 Volunteer teaching assistants  4 - 6 Young Riders Centre (for ages 5 - 7 plus parents)  Kids CAN-BIKE Instructor  1 Volunteers  3 Administration and support  Registration coordinator  1 Registration assistants  1 - 3 Information table volunteer  1 Bike mechanic  1 per 20 bikes Helmet loan pool/sales  2 per 20 children Site supervisor  1 Designated first aid volunteer  1 Food volunteers  4 Greeters/crowd management  2 Depending on the size and complexity of your event, you may need many more volunteers or you could get by with far fewer. You may be able to combine jobs. Use the information above as a guide to help you plan your Festival.   For more information, refer to the Kids CAN-BIKE Program Host Manual. Return to CAN-BIKE index page

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