Heart Niagara’s Cycle Safety Virtual Bike Rodeo is geared to children ages 8 to 13, who know how to balance on a bike but need instruction on the skills and knowledge to ride a bike safely. Bike Niagara was pleased to partner with Heart Niagara by advising on course content and being the lead instructor in the video. Important elements of bike safety are addressed including pre-ride equipment checks that cover bike fit, personal attire, helmets, ABC Quick Check and legal requirements on bicycles.  Then on-bike skills are shown starting with basic straight line riding, shoulder checking, and signalling, then progressing to the rock dodge, serpentine, turning and blind spot hazards.

Bike rodeos provide knowledge and skills to help prepare children for on-road riding, but rodeos alone are not sufficient to allow them to go on-road by themselves.  Until complete competence is demonstrated, they will need to practice the skills they learnt in a safe protected environment away from motor vehicles and also be accompanied by an adult care giver for any on-road riding. More advanced safe cycling courses are also available from Bike Niagara.