Kids CAN-BIKE program teaches bike safety to young people

With more and more people choosing to ride bikes for their health and the environment, it’s important to get a good start.

The city of Toronto’s Kids CAN-BIKE Camp provides a bike camp experience for children ages 9-13 years who want to develop and increase their cycling skills. Young people from across the city are learning how to bike safely this summer. At the completion of the camp, participants receive a new bike, helmet, lock and backpack.

Expert CAN-BIKE instruction teaches children how to steer, signal, right and left turn, change gears, brake and avoid road hazards. The youngsters will also learn about proper equipment and safe cycling techniques. They practice these new skills, first in a traffic-free environment and then on the road. A bike hike on the last day of the camp allows the campers to use all of their new bike-thinking skills on a ride to the Toronto Islands.

“Riding a bike is fun, good for your health and good for the environment, too,” said Councillor Adrian Heaps, chair of the city’s cycling advisory committee. “Through the CAN-BIKE program, we are able to encourage children to get active and to ride their bikes the safe way.”