Kids on Wheels Summer Success
Kids on Wheels is the award-winning educational program of the BC Cycling Coalition. Aimed at preschoolers, a largely underrepresented group in Active Travel planning and education, we use balance bikes to teach fundamental skills of cycling, road safety, and values around active transportation.
This summer, without the limitations of COVID, we were able to expand the program to serve more communities.
This summer we partnered with other youth centred organizations: Society for Children and Youth, Westside Family Place, and South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, to bring the Kids on Wheels program to neighbourhoods and communities throughout Metro Vancouver. We donated more that 200 hours of free programming and introduced children ages 2-5 to the joys of cycling.
Thanks to a generous Canada Summer Jobs grant from the Federal Government we were able to hire 6 staff to help us run and grow this educational program. Our team embodied the true purpose of the CSJ grants with staff ranging in ages from 15 - 28 and bringing several different languages and unique skill sets to the program.
The smiles are the best reward! Kids and parents love this program. It teaches independance and offers them their first glimpse of the joys of cycling. This important introduction to cycling is also a community builder and normalizes the idea of children using active transportation to access the places they visit in their neighbourhoods.
After a stellar summer we’re beyond thrilled to have expanded our Kids on Wheels program to the UBC neighbourhood for a Fall program! Through a new partnership with the University Neighbourhood Association (UNA) we’re running a 5 week session at the Old Barn Community Centre. We are delivering two programs, a Parent Participation program for ages 2-3 and a Pre-School program for ages 3-5. Stay tuned to our social channels for more updates and Kids on Wheels program dates in Winter and Spring!
Would you like to see Kids on Wheels in your community? Contact us for more information!
