COVID-19 Safety Plan for Bike to School programs

Last updated: January 25, 2023

 

What We Are Doing:

  • Training: All Instructors must attend a specialized COVID-19 training session prior to teaching any in-person programs.  This is to ensure protocols are understood and agreed upon. 

  • Group size: Maximum group size of 30 students in an indoor space, and two classes (approx. 60 students) for outdoor skills. 

  • Location: A new range of delivery options allows schools to choose whether the program is taught by Instructors in person (indoors and/or outdoors), through an online learning platform, or a mix of both. Explore these delivery options at bikehub.ca/bike-to-school.

  • Instructor Hygiene & PPE: Our Instructors will wash their hands frequently, and will be provided with hand sanitizer to use whenever a hand-washing station is not accessible. Instructors are strongly encouraged to wear a mask indoors, and when physical distancing (2 meters) is not possible outdoors. Each Instructor will be provided with their own Cleaning Kit for personal and surface sanitation. HUB Cycling provides medical masks to Instructors.

  • Instructor Vaccination: Our instructors are encouraged to be vaccinated.

  • School Policies: Our Instructors will follow all the safeguards that your school puts in place. Our Instructors will not use the staff room during recess or lunch, however, it would be appreciated if there was a washroom made available for their use.  Instructors will complete sign-in/out procedures for visitor logs.

  • Cancellation Policies: We have a flexible cancellation policy to reflect possible functional closures or widespread exposure events.  We will work with school organizers to reschedule courses if possible.

  • Equipment & Materials: Instructors have each been provided with personal equipment such as first-aid kits and vests to keep for the entire season. All shared bikes and helmets will be handled with clean hands and their frequently touched parts will be sanitized before and after each student’s use. Items such as cones, signs, lines and chalk will only be handled by Instructors.

  • Physical Distancing: A 2 meter distance between Instructors and participants will be maintained whenever possible. Keeping in mind that a situation may arise where an Instructor may HAVE TO close this distance in the interest of safety (e.g., first-aid emergency, preventing a fall). These considerations will be discussed in the program introduction. Instructors are aware of Red Cross First aid protocols for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instructors will use a ‘hands free’ approach when teaching the helmet and bike check. Students will need to adjust their own helmets and will be given instructions on what to do if any bike issues need sorting. We will avoid games that involve Instructor contact (e.g. high 5s). 

  • Pre-screening/self-disclosure procedure for Instructors: Instructors cannot work with the public if: 

    • they are sick or have symptoms (see list below) of COVID-19 (refer to this self-assessment tool from BC Government).  Instructors will complete a daily health check prior to entering the school.

    • they, or anybody in their household, are diagnosed with COVID-19, until the minimum self-isolation period has passed or COVID-19 is resolved by a negative test. Isolation period is determined by BC Centre for Disease Control for those with confirmed cases, and close contacts of various ages and vaccination statuses.  See BCCDC website for more information.

    • they are required to quarantine or self-isolate based on federal or provincial travel requirements

    • they have been directed by Public Health to self-isolate 

    • If an Instructor feels any symptoms starting during an instructional session, they must inform the participants and immediately end the session.

    • Instructors will not be penalized if they stay home because they feel sick. Instructors have access to paid sick time.

  • Post-course disclosure agreement for Instructors

    • Instructors should continuously monitor their health and if they experience symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested and follow procedures put in place by Public Health.  

    • HUB Cycling may assist in providing information or notifying relevant program participants or schools that were visited by a person with positive case of COVID-19 during their exposure period, as per public health advice.

 

What You Can Do:

  • Physical Distancing: Our aim is to maintain 2 meter distance between our Instructors and students, so please ask students to keep their distance. 

  • Equipment: Students should make every effort to bring a helmet and bicycle in good working order to minimize bike sharing and the need for Instructors to adjust the bicycle. Coloured vests/pinnies are required for students to wear during their road ride, and should be provided and kept sanitary by the school. 

  • Student/Staff Hygiene & PPE: Students and staff should wash or sanitize their hands before and after the program. If masks are required by school policies, we expect all students and staff to wear them for the duration of the program.  Mask use is encouraged but optional outdoors, and are the participant’s responsibility to bring. When a mask is used, it should be clean, fit appropriately, and be put on with clean hands.   

  • First Aid: All first-aid issues will be referred to school staff and not treated by our Instructors unless it is an emergency situation. If emergency First Aid is necessary, an Instructor will use their mask and gloves to treat the individual in close proximity. The student’s and Instructor’s details will be recorded on an incident report form which will be shared with the school.

  • Pre-screening/self-disclosure procedure for Participants: Student’s and staff are requested to refrain from participating in any program if:

    • they have been directed by Public Health to self-isolate 

    • they are required to quarantine or self-isolate based on federal or provincial travel requirements

    • they are showing COVID-19 related symptoms (see list below) (refer to this self-assessment tool from BC Government)

    • If a participant arrives at a program showing any COVID-19 related symptoms, Instructors will work with teachers to remove the participant from group activities while still maintaining appropriate supervision (e.g. individual work or go home).

  • Post-course disclosure procedure for Participants: Schools are encouraged to notify HUB Cycling if they experience any confirmed COVID-19 cases in participating classes or staff in the two weeks following the program.

For more information, contact schools@bikehub.ca

 

Symptoms of COVID-19 likely include but are not limited to: 

  • Fever or chills 
  • Cough
  • Loss of sense of smell or taste
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat
  • Loss of appetite
  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Extreme fatigue or tiredness
  • Headache
  • Body aches
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea 

Sanitization

Sanitization of our equipment and materials will be done with Spray Nine, which has been identified by the Government of Canada as a hard-surface disinfectant with evidence for use against COVID-19. The parent company of Spray Nine states on their website that the product contains no substances which, at their given concentration, are considered to be hazardous to health. A copy of the product’s Material Safety Data Sheet is included in each Instructor Cleaning Kit.