Getting Ready For Back To School
In one month, students across Calgary will be filling the halls of schools, but how will they arrive? Recent bussing changes mean that many families are looking at alternative solutions for school trips, but aren’t sure where to start. August is the perfect month to start planning, even making it a family or friend group activity.
The Bike!
A successful bike ride starts with having the correct bike. If your bike is too small, it will limit your distance and eventually lead to injury. If the bike is too large, it can be dangerous and riding it can also cause injury. Check your bike now to ensure it is fully functioning by doing a basic ABC-D Quick Check.
A : Air in the tires. Your tires should feel like an unripened orange, firm to the touch.
B : Brakes. Check both the front and rear brakes independently. If they are good, you should not be able to move the bike forward when the front brake (left) is engaged, and further pushing of the bike will result in the rear wheel lifting before your front tire ever moves. The rear brake (right) will allow you to move the bike but the rear wheel will not be spinning when you push the bike forward using the handlebars.
C : Chain. Check your chain to ensure it is functioning and on the right setting by lifting the rear wheel and using the pedal. If the rear wheel spins smoothly after a few hand-pedals, you are set to go, although if you haven’t used the bike for a while, we recommend inspecting for rust and giving the chain a quick lube to keep it running smoothly.
D : Drop. Pick your bike up 5 cm from the ground and let it fall. You are listening for anything loose and checking that nothing falls off or is rattling.
If you don’t have a bike, you discover that your bike is not the right size, or you find that your bike failed the ABC-D Quick Check, come down to our Bike Hub Community Shop. For $20.00 a year, you can gain access to a bike stand, tools and knowledgeable staff to get your existing bike working top notch to start the school year. If your bike is the wrong size, register for our Kids Bike Trade Up which allows you to swap out your bike for the right one for you at no cost. If you don’t own a bike, Bathtubs Bikes sells a variety of bike from both our Bike Hub location and their shop on International Avenue that are at an accessible price point.
Bike Security
Bike thieves suck, but there are many ways to keep your bike safe. Making sure you have a secure lock and that your school has a decent bike rack are just the beginning.
The bike rack itself should be in a visible, high-traffic area. This ideally is at the front of the school and not hidden by bushes or other barriers. Some bike racks are NOT good for locking because you can’t get frame close to rack to lock. In this case, choose to lock at the end, or even parallel to the rack.
The best locking method is using a U-Lock and including a wheel and the frame against the rack. Some locks come with a cable that can be used to secure both wheels, which is a bonus when your bike includes quick release tires, but can be cumbersome to carry with all your school gear.
If you find that the bike rack is not ideal, or you have concerns about securing your bike, you can always email the school to inquire about improving the bike rack or hosting a lock library at the main office.
How Do I Get There?
Picking a safe and comfortable route can be challenging, but it’s fairly easy to get around our city on a bike. If you’re traveling less than 5 kilometers, a bike would be faster in comparison to transit, and biking is 10 times faster than walking.
When you’re starting out, remember to choose your route by using a map or online tool such as Geovelo, Calgary Transit App (Yes, it has bike routes built in!) or Google Maps (and be sure to select the cycling option). Before taking your bike out to get to an appointment or event, test out routes ahead of time such as on the weekend. Some roads are better than others when selecting your route, so it is a great idea to find the community roads before you head out.
Many streets in Calgary have been allocated as “Bike Routes” using slower community roads. These do not have separate facilities, but should be comfortable for even novice bike riders. Remember that Calgary has a 1 meter safe passing law, and that you want to ride at least one meter away from parked cars to stay away from opening car doors.
You may want to “trip-chain” your route by including Calgary Transit for a portion of your trip. Avoid transfers along the route and fill in the gaps with your bike. Most busses in Calgary include bike racks on the front, and using the C-Train with your bike is extremely easy with no time restrictions.
How Do I Ride Safely?
Review the rules of both the road and pathways within the City of Calgary. These differ in all municipalities, so it is good to be aware of the local rules before heading out.
No matter if you are on a dedicated pathway or on the road, always ride on the right. Most pathways have a 20km/hr speed restriction while on street simply follows the posted speed limit.
In Calgary, you must have 3 items on your bike :
- Rear and front reflectors (or lights half hour pre-dawn / half hour post-sunset)
- Bell
- Brakes
All youth under the age of 18 years must wear a helmet, although we encourage it for all ages.
Hand signals not only help keep you safe, they are a great indicator for all users of your intention.
Are we missing something? Let us know what you need to have a successful start to the school year by emailing Programs@youthenroute.ca. You can also see our Guide For New Riders for some helpful maintenance tips and links.
