One of my fondest childhood summer memories growing up was biking around the
neighborhood late into the evening with my besties. There’s something empowering about
taking to the streets on your own two wheels. As our kids have gotten older and more
comfortable on their bikes, we’ve taken on more and more adventurous family rides. Biking is
such a great family activity, not only is it such great exercise and environmentally friendly, but
it’s also an amazing way to spend quality time together. I’m so happy to see our little ones
building their own early biking memories.
As happy as I am to pass on the joy of bike riding to our little ones, I do want to make sure they
always remember to put safety first. Anyone who’s ever ridden their bikes in a big city has likely
had their fair share of close calls (I know it’s happened to me). That’s why I was so happy to
take part in a fun night ride through the busy streets of Toronto to help raise awareness of bike
safety in our city about a month back. A group of us braved the cold February weather with the
folks from Onlia and Switchback Cyclery for a fun and educational ride. Onlia is a new digital
company based in Toronto that offers a safe driving rewards app and digital auto insurance, and
they’re on a mission to work with Canadians to make our roads and communities safer for
everyone. It was great to see so many riders come out and share their experiences and insights
into how riders and drivers can work together to make the streets safer, especially at night.
If you’re planning on heading out onto the roads with your kids this summer, remember to keep
these quick safety tips in mind to help make sure that every ride is your safest ride!
1. Make yourself visible - Add reflective tape and lights to your bike and wheels (or take it
one step further and wear reflective clothing).
2. Try to ride on a lighted path - While it may not always be possible, you’re much more
likely to be seen if you stick to well-lit roads & paths.
3. Have a plan - It’s important to plan your route out ahead of time. Avoid roads where the
lighting is poor. Even if the alternatives take you a few minutes out of your way, you’ll
feel a lot safer knowing that drivers will see you clearly.
4. Make sure you can hear your surroundings - Avoid using earphones to listen to music or
anything that would distract you from hearing what’s going on around you.
5. Assume you’re invisible to drivers - Slow down and be a little extra vigilant. While you
may think a driver can see you, it’s best to assume that drivers can’t see you at night. So be
extra careful as they turn, park and open their doors near you.
Remember that one of the best ways to help kids learn safe bike riding is to set a good example
yourself. So strap on that helmet and get out there so you can show them exactly what safe
riding looks like. I hope these tips help give you the confidence to get out there and light up the
night with your bike!
To learn more about Onlia’s safety movement, visit Onlia.ca or follow along on Facebook.