Who we are

About the CAN-BIKE Program

The Canadian Cycling Association's CAN-BIKE program is a series of courses on all aspects of cycling safely and enjoyably on the road. Program development is coordinated through two national committees. Course delivery and administration takes place through CAN-BIKE Delivery Agents, such as provincial and territorial cycling associations, regional instructor committees, community associations, municipal departments, service groups and the efforts of individual instructors.

Canadian Cycling Association

The Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) is the internationally recognized body responsible for the organization and promotion of cycling in Canada. The CCA is the umbrella organization for provincial and territorial cycling federations or associations, who promote cycling for all bicycle users.

The CCA develops and supports the CAN-BIKE program through the Education Steering Committee and Education Standards Sub-Committee. These national bodies ensure that there are standardized materials and certificates, maintain records on all instructors and CAN-BIKE 2 graduates, and distribute an instructor newsletter.

Provincial and Territorial Cycling Associations and Federations

Each province and territory is represented by a cycling association or federation that acts as the umbrella organization for local cycling clubs and organizations. The provincial and territorial organizations support regional CAN-BIKE Instructor Committees.

The provincial and territorial bodies maintain records of instructor activity and CAN-BIKE 2 graduates. Depending on resources and demand, or in the absence of a local body, they may also serve as CAN-BIKE Delivery Agents.

CAN-BIKE Education Steering Committee

The Education Steering Committee oversees development of the CAN-BIKE program, administrative guidelines, the delivery system and the necessary manuals. The Education Steering Committee also maintains relationships with other organizations which deliver cycling courses in Canada.

The committee is made up of CAN-BIKE national examiners representing provincial and territorial cycling associations and regional CAN-BIKE committees. In addition, committee members include the chair of the Canadian Cycling Association's Athlete and Coach Development Committee and the chair of the Education Standards Sub-Committee. Regional committees may be represented by CAN-BIKE instructors with considerable experience.

The functions of the Education Steering Committee are:

• To develop, maintain and administer traffic skills programs;
• To provide assistance where necessary in development of CAN-BIKE materials by CAN-BIKE National Examiners and Instructors;
• To develop and maintain standards of the CAN-BIKE program, documents, style and content;
• To review other cycling educational programs.

CAN-BIKE Education Standards Sub-Committee

The Education Standards Sub-Committee ensures that course standards are met, develops marking guides, represents National Examiners, deals with Instructor skill maintenance and handles other issues which may require a standards decision. The Education Standards Sub-Committee makes recommendations to the Education Steering Committee on course development and on the appointment of CAN-BIKE Instructors and National Examiners.

The functions of the Education Standards Sub-Committee are:

• To set standards for the CAN-BIKE examination materials;
• To review CAN-BIKE examination materials periodically;
• To develop marking keys for CAN-BIKE exams;
• To design Instructors' training courses;
• To act as mediator in problems arising between instructors and students.

National Examiners and Instructors

National Examiner

National Examiner is the highest level of certification in the CAN-BIKE program. National Examiner status is awarded upon application to the Education Standards Sub-Committee. National Examiners bring considerable experience in teaching and developing CAN-BIKE. They examine and certify CAN-BIKE 2 Instructors.

National Examiner qualifications:

• CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor who has actively taught CAN-BIKE 2 for at least two years;
• experience teaching and testing a variety of CAN-BIKE courses for some time;
• recommended in writing by a regional group of instructors and at least one National Examiner;
• is a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial cycling association or federation; and
• Education Standards Sub-Committee has awarded National Examiner status.

CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor and
Kids CAN-BIKE Festival/Course Instructor Trainer

CAN-BIKE 2 Instructors have the highest level of instructor certification, below the level of National Examiner. They earn their certifications through rigorous training, following years of experience as cyclists practising the skills taught in the CAN-BIKE 2 course. The vast majority of instructors in the CAN-BIKE program are CAN-BIKE 2 instructors.

CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor qualifications:

• must be an experienced rider with demonstrable competence;
• some teaching experience or training is desired;
• take and pass CAN-BIKE 2 with an 80% or better mark on written exam, handling skills, and road tests;
• must take part in a Skills II Instructor workshop run by a National Examiner;
• pass the road/handling tests with 90% or better mark, either during the workshop or as administered by a National Examiner to meet Skills II instructor standards;
• write and pass essay exam with 70% or better mark;
• practice-teach CAN-BIKE 2 under the supervision of a CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor or National Examiner;
• is a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial cycling association or federation; and
• National Examiner has awarded CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor certification.

CAN-BIKE 1 Instructor

CAN-BIKE 1 Instructors teach basic CAN-BIKE courses that do not involve administering examinations.

CAN-BIKE 1 Instructor qualifications:

• must be an experienced rider with demonstrable competence;
• some teaching experience or training is desirable;
• must take and pass Skills II with an 80% or better mark on written exam, handling skills, and road tests;
• is a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial cycling association or federation; and
• National Examiner or CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor has awarded CAN-BIKE 1 Instructor certification.

Kids CAN-BIKE Course Instructor

Kids CAN-BIKE Course Instructors teach the Kids CAN-BIKE Course or Kids CAN-BIKE Festival, usually under the supervision of a CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor or National Examiner. Their qualifications are similar to CAN-BIKE 1 Instructors, except that they teach only courses that are part of the Kids CAN-BIKE series.

Kids CAN-BIKE Course Instructor qualifications:

• should be an experienced rider with demonstrable competence;
• some teaching experience or training is desirable;
• must take and pass Skills II with an 80% or better mark on written exam, handling skills, and road tests;
• must take and pass Kids CAN-BIKE Seminar;
• is a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial cycling association or federation; and
• National Examiner or CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor has awarded Kids CAN-BIKE Course Instructor certification.

Kids CAN-BIKE Festival Instructor

Kids CAN-BIKE Festival Instructors are trained to conduct Kids CAN-BIKE Festival activities, usually under the supervision of a CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor or National Examiner.

Kids CAN-BIKE Festival Instructor qualifications:

• should be an experienced rider with demonstrable competence;
• some teaching experience or training is desirable;
• must take and pass CAN-BIKE 1 course;
• must take and pass Kids CAN-BIKE Seminar;
• is a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial cycling association or federation; and
• National Examiner or CAN-BIKE 2 Instructor has awarded Kids CAN-BIKE Festival Instructor certification.

CAN-BIKE Instructor Committees

Provincial and territorial CAN-BIKE Instructor Committees are regional groups of instructors working under the auspices of their provincial or territorial cycling associations. CAN-BIKE Instructor Committees make up networks that provide support and coordination for cycling and CAN-BIKE within each region. Their work includes the development of sustainable local CAN-BIKE instructor pools and delivery organizations.

Instructor committees are made up of CAN-BIKE Instructors and National Examiners, with additional representation from course administrators and delivery agents.

CAN-BIKE Delivery Agents

In addition to instructors who organize courses in their communities, a variety of regional and local organizations deliver CAN-BIKE courses. These organizations, recognized as CAN-BIKE Delivery Agents, are crucial to the growth of CAN-BIKE. They provide a vital administration role, as well as the capability of making CAN-BIKE available to specific user groups or professions.

Delivery Agents facilitate delivery of CAN-BIKE by bringing clients, instructors and venues together, providing the promotion and administration essential to making courses available to the public. Delivery agents are responsible for ensuring that instructor and participant records are forwarded to their provincial bodies.

In many communities, an instructor serves as a delivery agent, performing all the administrative duties required to promote and run a course and certify participants. Elsewhere, especially in larger centres, municipal departments may be delivery agents, advertising courses, registering participants and hiring instructors. Provincial and territorial cycling associations may also be delivery agents, making the CAN-BIKE program available to their members or the public, while providing an administrative framework for instructors in the province.

Here are a few examples of agencies involved in delivering CAN-BIKE:

• provincial cycling associations
• cycling clubs
• regional or community colleges
• municipal parks and recreation departments
• police services
• EMS organizations
• community associations
• independent instructors
• institutional instructors

CAN-BIKE Cyclists

Cyclists who graduate from a CAN-BIKE 2 course contribute greatly to Canada's growing ranks of cycling instructors. Most instructors are CAN-BIKE 2 instructors whose interest in cycling education started with their first CAN-BIKE course.

Students who complete CAN-BIKE often report it as a watershed experience similar to learning to swim, drive a car, or speak a new language. Graduates are no longer rolling pedestrians, trapped in a world of discontinuous sidewalks, pathways and other well intentioned but inferior infrastructure. They become functional, integrated elements of vehicular traffic flow. Graduates look at cycling in traffic in a whole new light and their new attitude inspires confidence, safer traffic integration and more frequent use of their bicycles in general. Graduates make better informed, more effective cycling advocates in their community.

Many employers and volunteer organizations require CAN-BIKE 2 certification for everyone whose duties may include riding a bicycle.

Since the Criminal Code was amended with Bill C-45, organizations have become legally responsible for providing appropriate training for their employees, volunteers and other representatives.

If you are required to ride a bike to perform work duties, then your employer is responsible for providing you with the appropriate training to ride safely. CAN-BIKE is the only nationally recognized safe cycling program in Canada that can provide the certification to fulfil this basic requirement.

Kids CAN-BIKE Course