Ride Your Path
HUB Cycling has developed a specialized urban cycling program to enable Indigenous, black, and other racialized youth to use bicycles as a means to more fully access their communities. The program is delivered in partnership with Red Fox Healthy Living Society, a registered non-profit charity that promotes healthy active living among youth
To enhance the delivery of the program, HUB Cycling engages the assistance of youth leaders aged 15-18 who are either recruited from the indigenous community where the program is being delivered or from the Red Fox youth leadership program. These youth leaders play a crucial role in mentoring and guiding the younger participants (aged 9-13) throughout the program. They are paid an honorarium for their involvement in the program.
The program begins with a one-day cycling course for the youth leaders. Following that, HUB Cycling instructors and Red Fox Program Facilitators work with the youth leaders to teach the younger participants how to cycle safely, basic bike maintenance, and to introduce them to Metro Vancouver’s cycling culture. Together, the youth mentors and participants identify and map community resources in their area reachable by bicycle, then spend the next five sessions trying out the safe and enjoyable cycling routes they have mapped to spots in their local community.
All participants and youth leaders are provided with bikes, helmets, and locks that they will use during the instructional sessions and keep after the program. Where there is funding, HUB also endeavors to provide lights to participants.
The program was first launched in 2021 in the City of Vancouver, reaching 10 youth leaders and 34 younger participants with the support of the Greenest City Grant. With funding from the Government of Canada's Healthy Community Initiative, it was expanded in Spring 2022 to Surrey, New Westminster, and North Vancouver. Overall the program reached 60 participants and was aided by 22 youth leaders across the three sites.
In Summer 2022, with a grant from Fraser Health’s Vision Zero program as well as donations from the Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society and the Rotary Club for Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, 6 youth leaders and 13 younger participants from the Katzie First Nation Band participated in Ride Your Path. Find out more about this program on Fraser Health's webpage or watch the short video below.
In Summer 2023, with a British Columbia Vision Zero in Road Safety grant, HUB Cycling and the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation partnered to offer another Ride Your Path program for 5 youth leaders and 13 participants.
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