The Cycle Safe program targets grades 5 – 8 students, providing curriculum-connected lesson plans, presentations, and classroom activities, as well as school and community safe cycling awareness templates, engaging videos, and links to other cycling resources. This program is a universal adaptation of the Ride to Thrive program, meant to support and extend school engagement across all schools in our region. Cycling is one more option for active school travel!
Module 1: Why Cycle
This module explains the benefits of cycling and the importance of practising safe riding habits. Cycling supports physical health, mental well-being, and environmental sustainability by reducing pollution and traffic. Safe cycling involves following traffic rules, wearing proper gear, and staying aware of surroundings. Programs like “Cycle Safe” help remove barriers by providing equipment and training, making cycling more accessible for students. The lesson encourages learning through a presentation and a brainstorming activity, where students explore cycling benefits in categories such as physical, mental, and environmental. Overall, the module promotes safe, confident cycling as a healthy and sustainable transportation option.
Module 2: Keep Your Head Safe
Ontario law requires everyone under 18 to wear a helmet while riding their bike. Because head injuries can have lasting effects on a child’s development and mobility, a helmet is the best defence against serious harm. For effective protection, helmets must fit correctly. This module includes a helmet safety and fitting lesson plan, covering why and how to wear a helmet. The presentation guides the class through discussion and visual demonstrations, including the 2-V-1 helmet fitting rule. The helmet safety worksheet and video reinforces helmet wearing and fitting skills and builds confidence and awareness.
Module 3: Keep Your Bike Safe
To keep your bike safe, it’s vital to lock it correctly. Using a high-quality lock and anchoring the bike to a permanent, fixed object makes it a much less attractive target for thieves. Mastering the proper use of a U-lock or cable lock is a key skill for every cyclist. This module explains why and how to use a bike lock, with a lesson plan, presentation, and fun “thumbs up” activity. The Lock It Up! video provides an engaging summary of module content.
Module 4: Keep Yourself Safe
This module includes reading the road, bicycle anatomy and fit, and fixing a flat tire and dropped chain. Effective signaling is a cornerstone of road safety. Since cyclists share space with motorists and pedestrians, clear hand signals eliminate confusion and prevent accidents by communicating intentions early. Furthermore, a safe ride starts with a well-maintained bike that fits the rider’s body. Understanding how the bicycle’s components work together and ensuring bike frame size matches with the height of the rider will improve control and minimize risk of injury. Finally, knowing how to handle basic bike repairs helps riders feel more comfortable and confident when riding.
Teaching Resources | Rules of the Road Video | Fix a Flat Video
Extra Activities
Three further road ready extras are included that can be added into the above module lessons or done as supplementary or summary activities: Build a Bike Trip, Cycle Safe Scenarios, and Ride On! Incentive Stamp Cards. These activities are great ways for students to synthesize classroom learning.
Promotional Templates
Included here are ready-to-use communication tools, such as pre-written newsletter blurbs, school announcements, and social media posts, making it easy to share and reinforce safety tips.
Templates (Newsletter, Announcements, Social Media, Posters)
Resources
This section includes links to resources mentioned above, as well as program videos, other relevant videos, as well as cycling education programs and cycling maps.
A print-ready set of two postcards is available to include with classroom instruction. The postcards reinforce key safety messages and can go home with students to share with family.
Cycle Safe Postcard (Printable PDF)
Disclaimer
The Cycle Safe Program was funded in part by the Government of Ontario. Any views expressed in program materials are views of Active & Safe Routes to School and not necessarily those of the province.