Ride the Road

THE GOAL: To increase students’ safe cycling skills and confidence so they can experience the benefits of biking for transportation.

Ride the Road is an immersive active travel course for grade 6-7 students. It incorporates hands-on activities to build cycling and pedestrian confidence regardless of students’ incoming skill levels. Trained instructors lead lessons to demystify bike mechanics, practice bike handling skills, and solidify rules of the road, all of which culminate in a supportive ride through their school’s neighbourhood. The program can be delivered fully in-person, or with a mix of online activities and outdoor instruction.

The curriculum was first developed in 2010 with the BC school curriculum and Metro Vancouver context in mind, in consultation with local cycling instruction experts and schools. HUB Cycling reviews the content of the course annually and has made regular updates and improvements to the course to ensure it remains current and effective.

Interested in having a Ride the Road program at your school?

What to Expect

Our HUB Instructors are Bike Right certified to ensure the quality of all in-person lessons. Meet our team!

Equipment: To make this course accessible to everyone, our helmets and fleet of 21 bicycles - including adaptive bikes - accompany each program. We also ask students to bring their own when possible.

Evaluation: Students and school staff are asked to complete an online survey before and/or after the course to measure course impact and changes in habits within the school community.

Classroom teachers have the rewarding opportunity to get involved by teaching any New Riders at the school with HUB's easy, step-by-step method outlined in this guide and video.

Unit 1: Introduction to Cycling Safety

Students are introduced to the benefits of cycling and how to ride safely by learning fundamental laws, behaviours, and communication.

Choose for this unit to be delivered in-person, or through online activities.

"I learned a lot of stuff that I didn't know and it's a really good idea to get kids to learn about safety and the roads in a fun way." - Grade 7 student, Hamilton Elementary, Vancouver

Unit 2: Basic Bike Maintenance

Hands-on activities get students up close and personal with bicycles as they learn to check air pressure, brakes, and oil chains. Tips for fitting a bike and locking it properly are also reviewed.

Delivered outside in the school yard.

“I also enjoyed the ABC quick check because we got to oil our chain and I have never done that before and it reminded me to do the ABC check every time I ride my bike out." - Grade 7 student, Maple Lane Elementary, Richmond

Unit 3: School Ground Cycling Skills

Within the comfort of the school grounds, students ride through drills that practice gearing, stopping, signalling, and improving control. New riders are coached through their own progression from balancing to pedalling.

Delivered outdoors in the school yard.

“I enjoyed [practicing bike skills] the most because I had never had a bike long enough to learn to ride, so this was my first real learning experience." - Grade 7 student, David Lloyd George Elementary, Vancouver

Unit 4: Rules of the Road

Students’ learning so far is put to the test with a friendly trivia competition. Emphasis is placed on clarifying rules of the road in preparation for the upcoming road ride.

Choose for this unit to be delivered by school staff or through online activities.

“I liked the trivia game due to the fun way we got to compete against our classmates and have fun while we also got to learn new bike information and concepts that we didn't know before." - Grade 7 student, Kingswood Elementary, Richmond

Unit 5: Neighbourhood Road Ride

Small groups head out to ride a pre-planned route that exposes students to common infrastructure and traffic scenarios, which our certified instructors discuss at pit stops along the way. New riders have another chance to practice fundamentals back on the school grounds.

“It gave me an opportunity to try what it’s like to bike on the road while there was an instructor supervising me and making sure I’m safe.” - Grade 7 student, Carleton Elementary, Vancouver

Program Variations

4-Unit Variation

4-Unit Ride the Road is a shorter variation delivered to schools within the City of Vancouver only. The curriculum is consistent with the original Ride the Road program, the only difference is the removal of the Basic Bike Maintenance unit.

All Vancouver schools are invited to apply, through the City of Vancouver's Climate Action Funding.

Target grades: 6 & 7
Curriculum overview: 4 units x 1 hour each = 4 hours total instruction per class

Unit 1 - Introduction to Active Transportation and Road Safety (in-person)
Unit 2 - School Grounds Active Transportation Skills Training (in the school yard)
Unit 3 - City Active Transportation Trivia Game (in-person)
Unit 4 - Neighbourhood Road Ride (around the community)

Read what these past Ride the Road recipients have to say:

“Thank you again for providing this program. It reinvigorated kids who had not cycled for a long period of time. They remembered how much they enjoyed riding.” - Grade 6/7 Teacher, Port Coquitlam

“My students really enjoyed the program. They enjoyed the practical part of riding the bicycles the best. Thank you for giving our school this amazing opportunity.” - Grade 6/7 Teacher, Vancouver

“It was a fabulous program and we will definitely be having them back if possible.” - Sarah Beairstro, Grade 6/7 Teacher, Richmond, Blended delivery