Fact Sheet

Funding to Enable Active and Safe Cycling

News Release: Harper Government Supports Safe Cycling

Unintentional Injuries among Children and Youth in Canada

Sports and recreation related injuries make up a significant proportion of unintentional injuries for children and youth up to age 19. In fact, 40% of child and youth injuries treated in Canadian emergency departments are sport and recreation related. While the Government of Canada encourages Canada’s children and youth to become more active and live healthy lifestyles, it is also important to encourage their safety while being active.

Through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Active and Safe injury prevention initiative, the Government of Canada is investing $5 million over two years to support a number of community-based projects that empower Canadians to make safe choices when they get involved in sports and recreational activities. Today’s announcement of nearly $195,000 will support a project to decrease the number of cycling-related injuries by providing children and youth with the skills and knowledge to improve their safety while riding a bike.

Enabling Active and Safe Cycling for Canadian Children and Youth

This project will be led by Safe Kids Canada in partnership with Cycling Canada.

Project activities include:

  • training more instructors to deliver CAN-BIKE programming so more children and youth can receive bike handling and training skills;
  • making sure low-cost helmets are widely available to Canadian children, youth and their families in high risk and underserved communities across Canada; and
  • conducting a public awareness campaign to promote healthy and safe cycling practices including the importance of wearing a helmet and modeling safe behaviours on every ride.

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