Letter from Bike Victoria Society to Mayor and Council

February 26, 2021

Mayor Screech and Council 45 View Royal Ave. View Royal, BC V9B 1A6

Dear Mayor Screech and Council:

I am writing, first of all, to thank you for your long-standing support for the Greater Victoria Bike to Work Week events. These free and fun events have changed the lives of tens of thousands of people over the decades and we are incredibly proud of this legacy that’s been possible through your support.

For 2020-21, we want to introduce our new ERG45 program to new elementary students in your municipality. The ‘Everyone Rides Grades 4 and 5’ program (ERG45) brings top-quality cycling training into the classroom and playground and equips kids with the skills to ride safely and confidently.

We are looking to partner with Eagle View Elementary School to run this 2-day program. The program is offered to every student in grades 4 and 5. Day 1 is ‘in-class’ and teaches road safety theory and the basics of bike mechanics. Day 2 is on-bike, where kids ride in mock traffic scenarios, learn bike handling skills, and signalling. We provide a fleet of bikes and helmets so all kids can participate, including 3 adaptive bikes for kids with balancing difficulties.

In 2020, we ran this program in 11 schools in the CRD. We trained over 1,100 students. The feedback from students, teachers, parents, and school administrators was overwhelmingly positive. We want to bring the same opportunities to kids in Sidney. With your support, we can make it happen.

View Royal has been a long-time supporter of our work. By leveraging funds from the Community Gaming Grant and supplemented by your Grant-in-Aid, we will be in a financial position to offer this program in your community.

We look forward to our continued partnership and our joint efforts to supporting active, sustainable transportation in 2021!

Sincerely,

Adam Krupper Executive Director Bike Victoria Society