Kids CAN-BIKE Festival

Introduction

The Kids' CAN-BIKE Festival is a playground-based event that introduces children to key bike handling skills they will need to ride safely on the road. The Festival is designed for children between the ages of 8 and 13. It is the first step in the Canadian Cycling Association's CAN-BIKE Program.

It is important that children go on from the Festival to participate in the Kids' CAN-BIKE on-road course for 9 to 13 year olds. The CAN-BIKE Program teaches that the bicycle is a vehicle and a cyclist has all the rights and responsibilities of other road users.

You can teach the on-road course to children if you have yoru CAN-BIKE 2 certificate and have participated in the Kids CAN-BIKE Seminar. Contact your provincial cycling association for a course near you.

Injury prevention

The skills developed in the Kids CAN-BIKE Festival address major injury prevention concerns for children age eight and older. A key group are 10-to-12-year-olds. Most cycling falls and collisions are preventable. As with swimming lessons, an investment now in cycling training can pay off in the prevention of serioius injury and lead to greater enjoyment of cycling.

Cycling is a life-long activity that contributes to fitness and good health. By cycling, people can make a direct contribution to the environment and can begin to see their neighbourhood and community in a whole new way. Most important, though, cycling is fun. With this course, cyclists begin the training they need to overcome the fear of traffic and other barriers that prevent people from cycling and being able to experience the joy of moving the body and propelling it through space on a bicycle.

Targetted intervention

The Kids CAN-BIKE Festival targets bicycle safety where it can do the most good.

• It uses trained instructors and provides an incentive for people in the community to get trained through the Canadian Cycling Association's CAN-BIKE Instructor program.
• It trains children when they are developmentally ready to be trained.
• It addresses injury prevention priorities.
• It is part of a nationally recognized, progressive program of courses called CAN-BIKE.
• It promotes the importance of on-road training with Kids CAN-BIKE.
• It is recognized by the Canadian Cycling Association, a national organization, recognized internationally, whose main reason for being is the organization and promotion of cycling in Canada.

Guiding principle

The guiding principle of the Festival is discovery. Often, bike education is either competitive or rule based. Sometimes, it emphasizes fun without addressing safety directly. The Kids CAN-BIKE Festival keeps the fun, but also provides substance.

Festival outline:

Equipment sections:

• Helmet and clothing check.
• Carrying things.
• Bike check and fit.

Riding stations:

• Straight line riding.
• Shoulder checking.
• Signalling.
• Braking and stopping.
• Stop and go.

Bike security station:

• Locking your bike.

For children 5 - 7 years old and their parents/caregivers:

• Young Riders Centre.

Kids CAN-BIKE Course