An investigation into barriers and facilitators to youth cycling in Vancouver.
UBC
Kinesiology
KIN 464: Health Promotion and Physical Activity
As part of this project we have proposed some next steps that could be implemented by our City staff partner. These recommendations were complied and created based on the data we collected through qualitative semi structured interviews with both parents and adolescents. The recommendation that we most heavily emphasize is starting community programs through the schools or elsewhere in communities that encourage kids to bike together or with parents. For example, a “biking school bus” could be implemented allowing parents to bike with groups of kids to school to both familiarize adolescents with cycling and have a chaperone present. Another concept was education programs to teach youth bike safety, etiquette and route planning in the city especially in schools where it is not already taught. Additionally, we mentioned the parent’s desire for more separated bike paths and better connection between routes in the city.
This project also inspired Councillor Adriane Carr to present a new motion to Vancouver City Council at the April 18, 2018 Policies and Strategic Priorities meeting focused on Increasing Cycling Education and Safety Training for Youth in Vancouver Schools. The motion was passed unanimously by Council.
