Victoria bike program teaches children safe cycling skills
Published 4:30 pm Saturday, June 27, 2026
A new bicycle education program is helping Victoria children build confidence on two wheels while honouring the memory of a cyclist who believed every child should have the skills to ride safely.
About 50 elementary and middle school students gathered at Central Middle School on Saturday for the inaugural Forrest T. McMullen Memorial Children’s Bicycle Education Program, a free event organized by Ride It Forward in partnership with Capital Bike.
The program teaches young riders essential cycling skills, including road safety, basic bike maintenance, obstacle navigation and bicycle etiquette.
“We’re creating, along with Capital Bike, an education workshop for kids to learn how to ride bikes safely,” said Michael Erlanger, founder of Ride It Forward.
The program honours Forrest T. McMullen, known as Chip, a close friend of Erlanger who was killed in a cycling collision. Erlanger said the initiative was created to continue McMullen’s passion for cycling and children’s safety.
Ride It Forward collects donated bicycles, refurbishes them and distributes them to students through eight schools in the Greater Victoria School District. Along with each bicycle, children receive a new helmet, bike lock and water bottle.
Erlanger said the education program complements the organization’s bicycle donation efforts by ensuring children have the knowledge to ride safely.
“We’ve created room for 50 children,” he said. “Not necessarily just the kids that received our bikes, but the whole student population.”
Capital Bike instructors led participants through a curriculum covering bicycle safety checks, including inspecting brakes and tires, as well as riding exercises designed to improve handling and awareness.
“They’ll teach bike safety, very simple maintenance, checking tires, checking brakes,” Erlanger said. “They’ve created some obstacle courses for the kids to learn how to ride safely.”
The day also featured games, prizes, food and completion certificates.
As Ride It Forward continues to grow, Erlanger said the non-profit is seeking donated bicycles that can be refurbished for children in need, as well as support for future education programs.
“If you’ve got bicycles to donate that are just not used anymore and are in your garage, they can be repurposed and given to a child,” he said.