This project will organize and support, in partnership with Katzie First Nation, a cycling safety and mentoring program for Katzie Nation Indigenous youth.

“The motivation is to help youth connect with where they live and with each other while improving their riding skills, confidence, ability to move in their community and safety knowledge.”

— Rose Gardner, Director of Bike Education, HUB Cycling

Cycling is a healthy, fun, practical, sustainable, and convenient way to travel. It should also be a safe way to travel. However, many people have never learned how to ride legally and safely, meaning that they are either more likely to get injured if they choose to ride their bike, or they decide not to ride at all. Research shows that where more people cycle, cyclist fatality rates are typically lower. Educating more people on how to ride safely will also help reduce injuries to the Katzie First Nation cycling community in general as it will put more riders on the road and help make cycling a more attractive and normalized mobility option.

The program is equipping 17 youth participants (aged 8-13) and six youth leaders (older teens) with the knowledge, skills and equipment to ride safely in their community. The program will meet for two hour sessions once a week for eight weeks, where they will learn about safe cycling including community wayfinding, bicycle maintenance, bicycle security, and accessing the broader region by bike. The donated bikes and the improved skills of each participant will help them to maintain their passion and new confidence for cycling. The program’s impact may be multiplied and sustained as these new riders can be sources of knowledge and encouragement for cycling within their families and their community—as well as promoting increased awareness of the road user experience from the perspective of people who are riding bicycles.

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