I believe that cycling is a…

I believe that cycling is a life skill and everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to cycle safely.

Cycling, like swimming, is not a skill one masters in a one-hour session or a one-time event.  It requires incremental learning over a period of time.

I also believe that an education program is not complete unless it involves an on-road component.

Instructors must be trained based on CAN-BIKE principles.

The Cycling into the Future Program has been developed with the above beliefs in mind.

The on-road component is so vital.  Think about driver education.  We would never give someone a driver's licence with them only practicing and being tested in a parking lot.  The same applies to cycling education.

I would also like to comment on "Childrens Safety Villages" at this time.  These pieces are very costly.  The infrastructure required to run them does not adequately simulate a real-life experience.  The scale is small so children do not learn the time it takes to cross a road or see the speed of real traffic.  Simulated bits can be set up at schools or community centres with follow-up on real residential streets.

I would strongly recommend that funds NOT be directed to these villages.

Also there is virtually no evaluation of outcomes of programs at these villages.

[Original Comment ID: 213388]