FAQs
FAQs
Who Coordinates CAN-BIKE Instructor Workshop Classes in Ontario?
The OCA holds two instructor workshops annually, one at the beginning and one at the end of the cycling season. All other Instructor Workshops are run by demand under the request of municipalities. For OCA Instructor Workshop dates please visit the CAN-BIKE tab on the left hand side of the page
Who organizes and runs CAN-BIKE programs in communities around Ontario?
It is the municipalities that organize and run CAN-BIKE programs throughout the cycling season. There are currently eight main municipalities that are facilitating the operation of various CAN-BIKE programs at various levels:
Markham – Nancy Letman
P: 905 474-1007 ext. 31.
Toronto – Barb Wentworth
P: 416-392-1142
Or
311
York – Yvonne Kaczor
P:905-830-4444 x 5051
E:yvonne.kaczor@york.ca
Thunder Bay – Adam Krupper
P: 807- 625-2163
Waterloo – Colleen Cooper
P: 519 883-2004 ext 5324
E: ccooper@regionofwaterloo.ca
Ottawa – City - Click Here for 2011 Schedule
P: 613-580-2854
Brampton – Jodi Bowering
P: 905-458-6555
E: jodi.bowering@brampton.ca
What is the role of the Canadian Cycling Association?
The CCA has ownership of the CAN-BIKE program and is responsible for certifying National Examiners.
What is the role of the Ontario Cycling Association?
The OCA is responsible for the certification and organization of Instructor workshops throughout Ontario. We provide guidance for municipalities throughout Ontario starting CAN-BIKE programs in their area.
What is the role of the municipality?
The municipality is responsible for the operation of various CAN-BIKE programs in their area. They look after the coordination of instructors as well as the scheduling of CAN-BIKE courses. Each municipality is responsible for the creation and distribution of promotional material.
What is the role of the instructor?
The instructor is responsible for the teaching of CAN-BIKE courses.
How does a municipality get started?
A municipality can be host to an Instructor Workshop where up to 8 people can be certified in one course. The Instructor Workshop ranges from 18 to 24 hours, and is usually held over a three to four day period. Only certified National Examiners are able to teach the course. For a list of National Examiners please contact the Ontario Cycling Association by e-mail at bmx@ontariocycling.org or by phone at 416-520-8672.
A municipality must:
- Identify potential CAN-BIKE instructors – experienced cyclists who want to teach
- Arrange for those cyclists to take a CAN-BIKE 2 course
- Arrange for CAN-BIKE 2 grads who are recommended as instructor candidates to take an instructor workshop
- Ensure that instructors hired to teach the program for the municipality have a CAN-BIKE instructor certificate, a current OCA membership and a first aid certificate.
Arrangements for CAN-BIKE 2 and instructor courses can happen two ways:
- Send cyclists to a location nearby offering the required courses
- Bring a National Examiner to your municipality and run the CAN-BIKE 2 course and Instructor Workshop concurrently
How many local instructors will we need in order to meet the demand?
CAN-BIKE is a labor intensive program, it is best practice that one instructor can work with a maximum of 5 or 6 participants at a time. It is recommended that a municipality start with a core group of 5 or 6 instructors and build on that as interest grows.
What supplies/facilities are needed to run an Instructor Workshop course?
Most of the supplies for the course will be supplied by the National Examiner provincial m
Supplies:
A set of laminated Traffic Posters
Flip chart (not usually supplied by National Examiners)
Markers (not usually supplied by National Examiners)
Pens
TV/DVD player (not usually supplied by National Examiners)
Instructor Workshop participant record
OCA Membership Forms
Facility: Event liability insurance
Access to a classroom or reasonable indoor space
Access to a level parking lot blocked off from cars
Secure bicycle parking facilities
Access to residential streets
Access to high volume streets
First aid kit
Emergency plan
Incident report forms and procedures
TV/DVD player
Flip chart
Markers
How are CAN-BIKE courses scheduled once you have instructors?
There are many different ways to set up the courses. A Kids CAN-BIKE Course could be run for 3 hours on four consecutive days of the week or for 6 hours on two consecutive Sat.
Adult courses could run on weekends or after work.
Find out what your community would like and go from there.
See our Types of CAN-BIKE Course web page
If I hire an instructor what qualifications should he present?
If you chose to hire a CAN-BIKE instructor he or she should present the following:
- Current First Aid Certificate
- Police Records Check if instructing the Kids CAN-BIKE Course
- CAN-BIKE instructor certification card (Green wallet size card with photo for 2011)
What supplies/facilities are needed to run a CAN-BIKE course?
Supplies: A set laminated “Traffic Posters” (see OCA) for teaching position on the road.
Flip chart
Markers
Pens
TV/DVD player
Course Feedback Forms
Course Completion Wallet Cards
Facility: Event liability insurance
Access to a classroom or reasonable indoor space
Access to a level parking lot blocked off from cars
Secure bicycle parking facilities
Access to residential streets
First aid kit
Emergency plan
Incident report forms and procedures
What happens with the paperwork from the courses?
All paperwork issued by the OCA has three carbon sheets. Whether it is the Student Feedback Form or the Incident Report Form the yellow copy gets sent to the OCA after the course the participant gets to keep the white copy and the instructor keeps the pink copy for their records.
The instructor is responsible for the return of paperwork to the OCA office once the course has commenced.
Where can courses run?
Courses can be run in any facility with liability insurance.
What are the costs to run a CAN-BIKE course?
One-time purchase: Traffic Dynamic posters, DVD
Costs per participant: CAN-BIKE Student Feedback Form & Course Completion Wallet Card. These are purchased from the OCA and will cost $2.00/participant.
Instructor fees
Facility Rental
What is the cost to participants taking the course?
Registration fees can be set by the organization running the course and the willingness of participants to pay.
What do participants need to participate?
A bike in good working order that “fits”.
A certified helmet that fits.
A bicycle lock and bell.
Weather appropriate clothing including closed-toed shoes.
Sunscreen.
Lunch, snacks and water.
A liability waiver form.
