The Comox Valley Cycling Coalition provides the School Cycling Program (SCP) to all SD71 grade 4-5 students. The SCP is a comprehensive 2 day program ensuring students receive basic bike handling and cycling skills in addition to road safety skills in a fun and safe environment.
Bicycle Skills
Day 1 of the program is an introduction of Basic Cycling Skills and takes place in a controlled environment of the school field. The first priority is always safety and with this in mind the program begins with a thorough bike and helmet check. Students are introduced to a number of fundamental cycling skills, through a variety of drills and games. Students are introduced to, practice, progress and eventually gain proficiency in the following: basic bike/body position, braking, gearing/shifting, cornering, tight-turns, straight line riding, climbing, descending and obstacles. Skills are introduced and quickly mastered through the use of games such as shark island, bike limbo and even capture-the-flag (on bike!). After a jam-packed session all students have made significant progression in their acquisition of fundamental cycling skills and found individual success whether it be climbing up a steep hill, navigating around a tight corner or riding over a teetter-totter. By delivering this instruction through the use of drills and games, students gain a wide breadth of understanding of the basic cycling skills while almost constantly playing on their bikes with big smiles on their faces.
Bicycle Rodeo
Day 2 of the School Cycling Program is a very detailed yet fast and fun instruction of Road Safety Skills. In small groups, students rotate through the following stations: straight-line riding, 4-way stop intersection and road ride. Students learn and practice all the necessary tools required to cycle safely on our local streets. Students learn then practice hand signals, how and where to ride on the road, and how to navigate an intersection (2 way, 3 way and 4 way stop). This second day of the School Cycling Program culminates with a group road ride through the streets near their school. Students are filled with a great sense of accomplishment, recognizing they have what it takes to cycle safely and confidently in their community.
Upon completion of the SCP, students have the knowledge as well as the practical application and experience to be responsible cycling members in our community.
Although the SCP is not a Learn-to-Ride program and all students are encouraged to be able to ride a bike independently, the CVCCo recognizes that this is not always possible and as such the SCP is designed to include all students with volunteers aiding students, at whatever level the student is at.
Additionally, participation in the SCP provides teachers and students access to an in-depth online cycling education resource to assist in their learning.
Helmets and Bikes
Thanks to generous support from the BC Cycling Coalition and other agencies, we are able to supply bikes and helmets to kids who don’t have them or forgot to bring them to school.