the davenport west bike project...

The Davenport West Bike Project Toolkit

AuThorsGabrielle LangloisDavenport West Bike Project Coordinator, DPNCHCMarcelo CastroCommunity Development & Health Promoter, DPNCHC

• 1Davenport West Bike Project ToolKit

PurPose of ToolkiT

To document and share our experiences and best practices with other health and community groups who may want to replicate and apply this knowledge to their workplaces or communities.

The Bike ProjecT Team

Coordination

• GabrielleLanglois,DavenportWestBikeProject• MarceloCastro,DPNCHCCommunity

Development&HealthPromotion• CesarLeon,SeniorsBikeProjectAssistant

Volunteers

LarryFirth,AliShiwkat,CharvezEdwards,MarceloCorrea,AntonSop,MagoubElBashir,TonyLamanna,RafaelLemus,CesarMeza,KareemBunyan,JohnSweeney,NadiaJamil,GustavoNavarrete,TiffanyGilbert,DerekHockley,BrianMcLean,XavierMunoz,TimEllis,FumikoOhno,GeoffBecarich,GiovanniEaba,CastriSincuer,AnneHerteis,KendraMacFarlane,EatonKwan,KendraYee,JessicaLajambe

Advisory Committee

JenDanch,TheStop;GeoffBecarich,BikePirates;PeteLilly,SweetPete’sbikeshop;LenniEubanks,MyFirstWheels;KristinSchwartz,CultureLinkSettlementServices;KarenWilliams,DavenportPerthCommunityMinistry;MarcosPerriera,LarryFirth,LinseyMcPhee,JohnSweeney

Copyright©2012TheDavenportWestBikeProjectToolkit,Toronto,ONFirstEdition

2 • Davenport West Bike Project ToolKit

Davenport West Bike ProjectOverviewofDPNCHC&Community.................................................................4WhyWeStartedtheBikeProject.......................................................................4

Getting the Bike Project startedCommunitySurvey&NeedsAssessment.........................................................7CommunityAdvisoryCommittee........................................................................8Outreach.............................................................................................................9PartnershipBuilding......................................................................................... 11ProjectDesignProcess....................................................................................12

Workshops for VolunteersPhysicalActivity................................................................................................14HealthyEating..................................................................................................15BicycleMaintenance&Repair.........................................................................17SafeRiding&InjuryPrevention.......................................................................19

expanding Bike culture: key components of the project

CommunityEngagement&VolunteerCoordination.........................................22Clinics...............................................................................................................23Rides................................................................................................................26WorkshopsforCommunity...............................................................................28MonitoringandEvaluation................................................................................29

appendicesAppendix A:SampleVolunteerJobDescription............................................. AiAppendix B: SampleLetterofSupportforGrantApplication..........................BiAppendix C:SampleEvaluationForm(Workshop)........................................ CiAppendix D: SampleEvaluation/AttendanceForm(BikeClinic).................... DiAppendix E:SampleflyerOutreachtoVolunteers..........................................EiAppendix F: SampleflyertopromoteClinicsdatestocommunity..................FiAppendix G: SampleJobPostingforexternalProjectEvaluatorposition......Gi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 3Davenport West Bike Project ToolKit

DAvENPOrT WEST BiKE PrOjECToverview of DPNchc & community

The Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre, (DPNCHC), operates in the heart of Davenport West, within a geographic area that goes from the CP railroad tracks to the west side of Ossington, between Bloor St. and the old city limits on Rogers Road. It includes three neighbourhoods, as defined by the City of Toronto:

Neighbourhood #91: Weston-Pelham Park; Neighbourhood #92: Corso Italia-Davenport;Neighbourhood #93: Dovercourt-Wallace Emerson-Junction

The area has a rich history of urban development and settlement. Influenced by the presence of the railway, the area became a strong industrial setting, providing jobs for resi-dents and newcomers.

Ethnically diverse, over 54% of the DPNCHC catchment’s population is made up of immigrants (DPNC Community Demographic Profile, 2009). Portuguese and Italian are the dominant language groups.

DPNCHC emerged in 1992 following a community effort to identify and address local needs for multi-service programming. The Centre soon became a neighbourhood hub, providing support and primary health care services to clients of all ages, including settlement, literacy, family services and community meal programs. For more on DPNCHC go to www.dpnchc.ca.

Why We started the Bike Project

Chronic diseases are a leading cause of death in today’s world, and Davenport reflects this general trend that is made worse due to the adverse local socio-economic conditions. The three City of Toronto

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neighbourhoods that comprise our catchement (# 91, #92, and #93) are, for instance,all ranked at the bottom for the incidence of diabetes rates across Toronto’s 140 neighbourhoods, at respectively 122nd, 108th, and 136th positions (Glazier and Booth, 2007). Likewise, the average rates for other chronic condi-tions including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke are as well higher in these neighbour-hoods than the City’s average (TCHP Partnership, 2004).

DPNC has responded to the needs to address the local levels of chronic illnesses. In 2009, the Centre established Chronic Disease Management and Prevention a strategic direction, as a way to provide support to a greater range of programs and activi-ties preventing chronic conditions. The Bike Project emerged to support this strategic direction.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed to the fact that physical inactivity is a key global factor to impact chronic diseases and to cause death. Increased physical activity and healthy eating are two possible strategies to positively influence this trend, as they also help to treat other major health risks, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and stress. Physical activity engagement may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Perceived or real barriers to physical activity participation and healthy living however

persist, particularly in areas where individuals and families are strug-gling to make ends meet like in Davenport. The bike project then was also developed as a community means to address the health inequity gaps that exist from the grassroots level.

To that end, the Bike Project has engaged a diverse range of commu-nity members, including seniors, youth, newcomers and long-term immigrants. They were directly involved in education, promotion and engagement toward a healthier lifestyle in the community.

“In family practice and preventive medicine we know clearly that inactivity is associated with poorer health outcomes. Much of what we do is to encourage our patients to maintain their good habits or help them pursue other healthy activities. But how do we encourage activity in a non clinical setting? DPNCHC’s strength is in its dual capacity as both a neighbourhood gathering place as well as a health venue. It allows us to exchange ideas about health with our population in a non clinical setting. But how does a CHC exchange ideas with a group that does not necessarily access our clinical or community services very much? Integrating bike culture into DPNCHC is a unique way of engaging our community. It offers a theme of activity to those already accessing our services, but also engages populations that do not necessarily access DPNCHC’s resources. Particularly for men, it provides a strength based activity where the center can look to them not only as participants, but as resources from who we can learn. This collaboration and exchange of ideas around activity with a population that traditionally does not come to DPNCHC is yet another way in which DPNCHC creates an opportunity to help strengthen the life of this neighbourhood.”

Dr.BernhardFrizFamilyDoctor

Characteristics of DPNCHC communities

Proportion of low income families

20%Proportion of residents

with post-secondary credentials

1/3Proportion of tenant house-holds paying 30% or more in rent

46%Median income of persons

15 years and older

$20,465

• 5Davenport West Bike Project

• Group bike rides have provided the opportunity for families and individuals to meet others, become more physically active, and explore new areas of the city.

• Over 50 bikes have been repaired and donated to the community, helping those with low or fixed incomes enjoy the benefits of cycling.

• Thirteen clinics have functioned as forums to help children and adults acquire basic bike maintenance and repair knowledge and support.

The volunteers developed and contrib-uted talent, skills, time and resources to expand bike culture to address chronic disease risk factors by promoting physical exercise, self-help skills, social connection and involvement.“Biking” and free bike repair clinics were valued as an innovative way to reach a diverse range of community members and also offered a new way to engage a broad spectrum of volunteers.

• Bike clinics provided free repair information, tools parts to partici-pants with limited accessibility, due to economic constraints.

• Ten interactive community work-shops focused on topics such as: health promotion, safe riding, injury prevention and healthy eating.

hiGhliGhT of The Bike ProjecT’s achieVemeNTs:

“Bicycles are effective health promotion mediums: they help prevent chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Economically and socially, bicycles are practical and accessible; they don’t pollute the environment, reduce traffic jams, and alleviate commuting across the city. These alone provide a strong basis for why we engaged in developing the bike project.”

MarceloCastroCoordinator,Community

DevelopmentandHealthPromotion


GETTiNG ThE BiKE PrOjECT STArTED

community survey & Needs assessment Prior to the organization of the bike project, DPNCHC asked commu-nity members to complete a survey in order to record local needs and/or attitudes about biking. Over 50 people completed the survey, and the response suggested a strong interest in improving access to bikes, bike knowledge and repair. More specifically, many community members without practical knowledge were interested in learning. Summary of ResultsThe bike project was declared a “great idea” by 53 community members. These members were hopeful that skill learning (i.e. bike repair, safe riding), and skill transfer (i.e. bike clinics, bike tours) would support positive lifestyle changes. Beyond these results, our participants viewed the project as an oppor-tunity for community building. Most respondents, for instance, indicated that they would like to volunteer for project activities, including teaching people how to fix a bike (34%), helping others to fix a bike (45%), and organizing bike trips/tours in community (53%). Furthermore, they identified economic benefits to the community as an outcome of this project. People were interested in ngaging in biking culture and recog-nized that it provides an affordable and faster means of transportation, which is also environmentally friendly.

“Through my work as the Community Advocacy Coordinator at The Stop Community Food Centre, bikes seemed like a cool way to help people get to grocery stores, gardens and farmer’s markets where they can access healthy food. Here in Davenport-West we don’t have a grocery store and most people can’t afford to take public transit – so pedal power seemed like one good solution.”

JenDanchCommunityAdvocacyCoordinatorTheStopCommunityFoodCentre

“People cannot afford bike shops in our communities. The Bike Project gives an alternative to the expensive tuneups and overhaul procedure all must do in order to continue using their bicycle. By allowing people the opportunity to fix and repair their own bicycles they are recycling and encouraging green transportation technologies. The health benefits alone from the bike project and encouragment towards cycling in our local community is worth it.”

GeoffBecarich,BikePirates

• 7Getting the Bike Project Started

community advisory committee We invited several active community members to participate in a brainstorming session to analyze the survey results and respond to community needs. These included parents, tenant representatives, seniors, medical staff, current volunteers, and active cyclists. The infor-mation gathered complemented what we learned in the survey. The majority of the group were interested in continuing their involvement in the project; they formed the foundation for the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee played a key role in developing the project. They provided the necessary expertise and energy to design an effec-tive project from its roots to a formal model. The team also helped identify strategies to encourage greater involvement in the project and to help with the different aspects of implementation. Major aspects of the project include education, curriculum design, events, training, networking, fundraising, accessing resources, and community engagement. One committee member played a key role in sourcing bikes for distribution to young people within the community.

“Through this advisory group and the Bike Project itself, we have received many benefits. We have learned a great deal about how to structure an advisory committee; in fact, we are just now adapting the model to our own partnership.”

KristinSchwartz,CyclingOutreachCo-ordinator,CultureLinkSettlementServices

Tips for recruiting or starting an Advisory Committee

• Contact people you know who are interested in the topic to see if they are interested in participating or know others who might be interested. This could include representatives from local resident’s associations, Business Improvement Association (BIA), local school councils, local councillor’s office and other local social service agencies. These groups have networks and contacts with active local citizens who can help mobilize and connect with the community.

• Ask colleagues if they are interested and to ask their clients if they might be interested in getting involved.

• Post invitations to join the Committee in your offices, local libraries, local papers, meeting places, on Charity Village, volunteer Toronto, facebook and on your website.

• Do some internet research to find other, new organizations that are interested in your topic and contact them to see if there is a good opportunity to work together.

• Remember to schedule meetings at times that work for the majority of the team and email regular updates on meetings and project activities.


outreach Outreach varies depending on the goals of a project and the community you are trying to reach. Our outreach goals were to engage volunteers in the project, as well as to let the community know about the project activities. We found that engaging in a variety of methods increased our ability to reach a wider range of participants. Word of mouth about the bike project, surprisingly, brought many new people to the centre. As more community members heard about the bike project, greater excitement and interest in biking ensued, leading to new volunteer involvement.

Flyers were widely distributed around the community inviting people to volunteer and also indicated the bike clinic dates. Flyers were posted (old-school method) in high traffic locations including the local libraries, outside schools, laundromats, bulletin boards at community centres, bakeries and at street corners on telephone poles. The information was also sent to local e-groups, and blogs such as the ibiketoronto blog: http://www.ibiketo.ca. A great way to recruit new volunteers on a project is to post on Charity Village or a local volunteer website such as Volunteer Toronto. The feedback we received from potential volunteers suggested that the positive response to the project was due in part to its focus on health promotion and its ability to teach bike repair skills to people of all ages. Listening to the feedback helped us adjust our messaging as we developed the project.

Once the project estab-lished times for workshops and clinics, the team contacted ethnic and local media, and created a Facebook page to let the community know where we were and how to get involved. Keeping the message clear, consistent and short helped us. There are so many great initia-tives looking to spread the word, that it helps to take every opportunity to promote your work.


The advice “don’t reinvent the wheel” can be very applicable to outreach and promotion. Look into other events and programs that are already scheduled in your organization and community and see how you can leverage your project to take advantage of their traffic and promo-tion. For example, the DPNCH Health Promoter coordinated an official launch of the project as part of the Ontario Association of Community Health Centres’s Community Health Week, and invited media and poli-ticians to attend. As a result, the project was discussed in several local papers and online. Also check out Charity Village, Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport for ideas and events to partner with.

Outreach continued to happen as the project rolled out. For instance, as a community health centre, we participated in Community Health Week to conduct workshops and promote the project. Workshops were conducted with seniors on healthy eating, which included making healthy meals with a dietitian, distrib-uting recipes, and give-aways such as cookbooks and supermarket vouchers. We also conducted safe riding workshops for parents and youth at local schools. When the project was piloted, a safe riding workshop was held with the children in the DPNCHC summer camp. The impact was greater than expected, as many of these youth came to future bike clinics and spread the word to their friends. We had not expected that at least fifty percent of the partici-pants in the bike clinics would be under 16 years of age.

“We have deepened our links and connections to the neighbourhood. Volunteers associated with the Davenport West Bike Project have made invaluable contributions to the workshops that we present to newcomers, and we have shared tools and equipment.”

KristinSchwartz,CyclingOutreachCo-ordinator,CultureLinkSettlementServices

Tips: Building Partnerships

• Take time to develop partnerships within your organization, and from all sectors interested in cycling and health promotion (i.e. community, business, education & government)

• Use the Internet to find local groups interested in biking, health promotion etc.

• Develop terms of agreement for partnerships

• Be open to various strategies in partner-ship development

Tim, Bike Project volunteer, checking and repairing bikes at Carlton Village Public School, to help ensure bikes are safe for the kids to ride.


The Good Bike Project marks a site that embodies the spirit of regeneration and community. A blue bike was placed outside DPNCHC to designate and celebrate the Davenport West Bike Project as a Community Builder.

Members of the Bike Project participated in a Bike Audit for Ward 17. This was part of a city-wide audit conducted by the Toronto Cyclists Union. The audit looked at crossing barriers, connecting bikeways (particularly north-south).

Partnership Building The DPNCHC’s concerns with chronic illness, The Stop’s interest in increasing accessibility to food, CultureLink’s interest in supporting newcomers to bike in Toronto, and local interest in the physical and environmental benefits of cycling all helped the project get started. These groups discussed how to promote biking as a medium for improving quality of life in Toronto and the Davenport West neighbour-hood in particular.

The Partnership grew:Connections were made with a local do-it-yourself bike shop, Bike Pirates, to provide support for training volun-teers in repair and maintenance. As a result, some volunteers helped at Bike Pirates and made donations. Residents in Davenport West area became more familiar with Bike Pirate’s resources.

A staff member spoke about the project with a contact at a local bike store, and the store allowed the centre to borrow products for workshop training, and lent their expertise on sourcing parts. One of our partners, the Davenport Perth Community Ministry, orga-nized a fundraiser to enable the Bike Project team to give away safe riding gear such as helmets, bells and locks. This was a great support to many low-income community members. Next, the project connected with My First Wheels, an organization committed to providing access to bikes for children 6–12 years old. My First Wheels provided over 40 donated bikes, and helmets, for distribu-tion to youth in our afterschool program, in the Early Years programs, and for Carlton Village Public School. Many children in these programs cannot afford bikes or do not have space to store bikes. The hope is that by getting children active and enjoying safe cycling from an early age they will continue to be life-long bike riders!


Project Design Process Research was collected regarding community biking in Toronto and around the world. For example, we visited South Riverdale Community Health Centre to see their established bike clinics and to learn from their experiences.

Pilot

The project’s pilot was a key part of the project’s start, and showed there was growing interest in biking from volunteers, staff and commu-nity. The pilot started with 4 bike repair clinics planned and ended up having 10 during the summer months. A core team developed, in part because the volunteers thrived in the community environment. People recognized the volunteers and thanked them for teaching bike repair skills. The volunteers were resourceful. They informed others of their involvement, leading to more used bike donations. Another part of the pilot included connecting with program staff. Working with DPNCHC’s Early Year’s and Children’s Services, we offered a safe riding workshop at the summer camp. This helped us gauge interest in biking and provide a forum to talk about riding as a healthy activity, keeping in mind our goals about reducing incidence of chronic conditions.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled and honoured to partner with DPNCHC to get kids cycling. Together we have been able to do so much more than we could have on our own to get kids on wheels and learn safe cycling. This has had enormous benefits for children, their families, and the entire community. The toolkit is another example of DPNC’s dedication to promoting cycling through strong partnerships. It will be invaluable resource that other communities can use to make it happen in their own neighbourhoods.”

LenniEubanks,Founder,MyFirstWheels(myfirstwheels.ca)


The pilot clinics helped us to understand the scope of support that we could provide. We learned that we had to focus on teaching basic bike maintenance for brakes, chains and tires. We organized clinics at different times to see what would work best.

Tips on how to approach and access in kind donations:

Ask around and go on the internet to see if another organization has done a project similar to yours, they may have tools, hardware, and “stuff” that they may not be currently using that you can borrow. This can help you determine what you need and what you don’t, and get you started until you can get funding or donations for what you do need. It may also help establish another contact or partner for your project.

Examples of in-kind contributions for the Davenport West Bike Project:

“We started out by having some bike clinics in our drop-in and eventually fixed up a fleet of used bikes that our community members can borrow for free in order to get where they need to go. We’ve also managed to get a few more bike racks installed around our centre – which is a good thing because there’s a lot more bikes around than there used to be!”

JenDanch,CommunityAdvocacyCoordinatorTheStopCommunityFoodCentre

• The Stop provided food for the initial training sessions

• Bike Pirates provided bike training expertise, tools and space for training volunteers and on-site mechnical support at clinics

• Unison Health and Community Services lent us bike stands and feedback from their bike activities.

• Sweet Pete’s provided bike mechanic (back up support

if volunteers were not able to attend) at clinics

• DPNCHC committed resources for coordination, logistic and administrative support

• CultureLink provided safe riding expertise and Toronto Cyclists Manual in multiple languages

• Cyclops (Cycling Oriented puppet squad/Clay and Paper Theatre) animated a clinic


WOrKShOPS FOr vOLuNTEErS

The Bike Project relied on volunteers to run the community bike clinics, so training sessions were done with them to provide context, knowl-edge and skills to support the project work. To promote ownership and collaboration, the workshops were put together by different teams with different knowledge levels about cycling for health, cycling safety and bicycle maintenance.

Here we provide you some of the key points from these workshops: Physical activity

The purpose of this workshop was to inform the participants about the dangers of long term chronic illness and steps people can take to prevent or ameliorate chronic illness. Important facts from the workshop: Why bike for health? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines chronic diseases as “diseases of long duration and generally slow progression” (http://www.who.int/topics/chronic_diseases/en/). World-wide, up to 60% of deaths are attributed to chronic diseases, making it the leading cause of death. In Canada, over 73% of deaths in 2002 were due to chronic disease, and in Ontario, almost 80% of the population over the age of 45 is living with a chronic condition.1

“I am happy to train cyclists how to maintain their bicycles themselves and help other cyclists with their basic maintenance of their bikes.

By allowing the passing of my knowledge of bicycle maintenance to these participants, it allows cyclists a new found respect for their bicycle and build a community that allows for people to enjoy the many benefits from cycling.”

GeoffBecarich,Mechanic,BikePirates


“A specialty bike store, like ours, might be intimidating to some, and the Bike Project has let us connect with a lot more people. We love being involved in anything that strives to get people on bikes because it’s what we’re all about. It’s been great working with the Bike Project team, the project has been worthwhile and rewarding and we look forward to continuing to work in the community.”

PeteLillyOwner,SweetPete’sbikeshop

Physical inactivity is a key factor in poor health – 1.9 million deaths globally can likely be attributed to physical inactivity. According to the WHO, “Appropriate physical activity for all constitutes one of the major components of a healthier life style, along with a healthy diet, a tobacco free life and avoidance of other substances harmful to health (WHO, 2003).”2

Cycling is a form of aerobic exercise that strengthens the heart thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. In addition to this, occasional cycling will help to build and tone muscles. Regular cycling contributes to a reduction in body fat, builds stamina and energy, and reduces stress, anxiety and depression.3

Cycling is a pleasant leisure activity that can bring you closer to your family, friends and the people in your neighbourhood. It is also envi-ronmentally friendly since it does not release any harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Cycling can also be used for transportation throughout the city.

During the workshops, participants engaged in conversations about physical health, mental health, access to sport and exercise in the community. Having a discussion highlighting the big picture, explaining what chronic health is and its impacts, helped the group understand the need for regular physical activity and how “biking” was a great way to address these issues for the local community.

healthy eating The purpose of this workshop was to inform the participants about the benefits of healthy eating on their general health, energy levels

and disease prevention as well as the importance of regular fluid intake before, during and after exercise. Important facts from the workshop: Food is fuel for our daily activities. It is important to balance your daily intake of food from the four food groups. Consider where your food is coming from and how it is being produced to optimize nutri-tion and minimize your impact on the environment.

• 15Workshops for volunteers

Drinking plenty of fluids is just as important as eating enough of the right kinds of food. A large proportion of fluids can count towards your daily recommended consumption of 3.7 litres for males and 2.7 litres for females. Drinking water, caffeinated beverages, and water contained in food and beverages count towards your daily total. Alcoholic beverages do not count towards this total. Prior to exercise, drink 400–500ml of fluids. During exercise, consume 150–250ml of fluid every 10–15 minutes. Pay attention to how much you sweat while exercising and consume liquids accordingly. Bring a water bottle on your ride and drink before you get thirsty – thirst may be a sign that you are already dehydrated. It is important to remember to eat regularly. Do not eat heavily before exercise. The goal is sustain adequate energy through the exercise. Bring a snack with you if you are going on a longer ride. Consider the list of healthy snacks to bring for the ride or for recovery.

Please refer to Canada’s Food Guide4 for detailed information about portion sizes and recommended daily intake. The Health Canada website also makes the guide available in several languages.

For the bike project we were fortunate to have funding to enable us to not only discuss healthy eating, but to provide opportunities for participants to make healthy


food, to eat healthy food and to share food with others. Food was incor-porated into our bike clinics, rides, workshops and meetings, providing many opportunities to learn new recipes and talk about new ways to prepare foods. The participants commented on new techniques they liked such as combining feta, couscous, cranberries, fresh mint and watermelon into salads.

Bicycle maintenance & repair(with thanks to Bike Pirates for the use of their materials)

The purpose of this series of workshops was to give the volun-teers some basic skills in bicycle maintenance so that they could show them to bike clinic participants and perform some maintenance tasks that would be donated to community members.

Important facts from the workshops: To maintain your bike, look out for: • TIGHT PARTS – wheel nuts or quick

release levers, handlebars & stem, seat & seatpost, pedals and crank arms, brake pads and brake mounting hardware (“bounce test”)

• SPINNING PARTS – wheels, pedals, cranks, headset (forks)

• BRAkES – whole cables (not frayed), reasonably new pads (not worn), pads don’t touch the rim when not braking, rear brake can skid the rear wheel on dry pavement (required by law)

• TIRES & WHEElS – no broken or loose spokes, even rims, good tread on the tires, inflated to recommended pressure (consult side of tire for recommended pressure)

• DRIVE TRAIN – oiled chain; rings, cogs, chain and derailleur clear of grime

• VISIBIlITy (required by law) – red reflective tape on rear of bike and white on the front, lights (front and rear), bell or horn

Tip: For more bike info, see:www.sweetpetes.com/articles/bike-pictionary-dual-suspension-bike-trek-pg77.htm


Bicycle fit and types It is important to select a bike of appropriate fit, type and quality to suit your needs. Consider the purpose of your bicycle – road riding, cross country/trails, carrying cargo, short or long trips. The fit of the bicycle is important for injury prevention, safety and comfort. There are a number of factors to consider when fitting a bicycle, most importantly, the frame length. Consult a bicycle mechanic or a sales associate in a bicycle store for more details about appropriate fit. A road bicycle is primarily intended to be ridden on paved roads. It has narrow, high pressure tires that are relatively smooth to decrease rolling resistance. Road bicycles usually have multiple gears, but can be single speed and are usually made from lightweight materials. A mountain bike is a bicycle designed for riding off-road, on unpaved paths. It often has front or front and rear suspension to minimize impact on the rider, wider tires with knobby treads and many gears to allow for climbing hills. It often has disc brakes instead of the regular rim mounted brakes.

There are many types of cargo bikes, designed specifically to carry a load at the front or rear of the bicycle in boxes, on platforms or in wire baskets. The frame of the bicycle can be ordinary or altered to accommodate the cargo space. Purpose-built cargo bikes have reinforced frames and drive trains, constructed to handle larger loads.

Left Turn:Leftarmout

Right Turn:Leftarmout&up

Alt. Right Turn: Rightarmout

Stop:Leftarmdown&palmup


safe riding & injury Prevention

The purpose of the workshop was to highlight the important considerations that riders should take into account when riding on paths or on the street, including the necessary safety equipment and guidelines about safe behaviour while riding. Important facts from the workshop: Before you ride Are you healthy enough to start? Take the PAR-Q questionnaire and talk to your family doctor if you have any concerns. Make sure your bike is in good repair and that you have the necessary equipment (helmet, lights, appropriate clothing and footwear).

Plan your route – plan the path you will take while riding so that it matches your level of ability and comfort level with cycling in traffic. Consult the City of Toronto cycling map which is also available in hard copy from the city or bicycle shops.5

Warm up before your ride – leg muscles and back muscles. Refer to an exercise manual or an exercise professional for advice.

During your ride Know your limits and respect them – do not plan an overly strenuous or long ride if you do not regularly engage in physical activity, or you are recovering from an injury.

For further guidance:

Larry Firth, Bike Project volunteer, recommends the following books by Calvin Jones:

• TheBigBlueBookofBicycleRepairfromParkTool:ADo-it-YourselfBicycleRepairGuide

• TheParkToolSchoolInstructorManual

Online videos:

• (from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://youtu.be/0yzSwxWIJTk

Seeing the volunteers working on bikes each week helped people gain confidence in learning how to make small fixes to their own bikes. I think there is less mystery about bike repair – ‘Larry showed me how to fix a flat and put air in it’, so now they feel they can do it themselves. They learned better how to do their own assessment of their bike before they go somewhere else for help, which can save them a lot of money and time.

LarryFirth,SeniorVolunteer

1MinistryofHealthandLong-TermCare(2007).“PreventingandManagingChronicDisease:Ontario’sFramework”2“HealthandDevelopmentThroughPhysicalActivityandSport”-WHO,2003.www.sportanddev.org/en/learnmore/?uNewsID=823www.csep.ca/CMFiles/Guidelines/CSEP-InfoSheets-adults-ENG.pdf(CanadianPhysicalActivityforAdults18-64)4www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php5www.toronto.ca/cycling/map/index.htm


It is best to start your exercise regimen gradually (say with a 10 minute ride) and then increase the level of difficulty as you become more profi-cient. Stay hydrated and keep an eye on the weather. Know the rules of the road – become familiar with important road signs and know how you are supposed to behave in traffic as a slow moving vehicle. Learn the signals used by cyclists to indicate a left or a right turn, and a stop. Check ou the Toronto Cyclists Guide ifor more infor-mation n 16 langlusges: http://bikeunion.to/handbook

Stay visible and signal your intentions – your bicycle must have front and rear lights as well as reflective tape on the front forks and rear seat stays.

Your helmet, clothing, shoes and hands should also have reflective materials to maximize visibility. After riding

Cool down with a short walk and stretch again. Hydrate well and consider eating a snack. Clean your bike if it has been raining or if necessary.

Safety basics

Ride in a straight line, on the right hand side of the road. Ride at most three feet from the curb of the road. Stop at the edge of the road, red lights, stop signs.

Always look behind you over your left and right shoulder, before you turn or move out on to the road. Signal every move that deviates from a straight path – turns, stopping, etc. Look ahead on the road in front of you to check for danger and other developments in traffic.

“On behalf of all of the children in our Kindergarten division, I want to thank My First Wheels and Davenport West Bike Project for the wonderful bikes, bike helmets, safety workshop and bike tuning that you provided. My kindergarten students often draw pictures in their journals of themselves and friends riding bikes. They even include the safety helmet.

The donated bikes have made it possible for every child in the class to have a bike. Some students have now opted to ride their bike to school instead of a stroller. The knowledge and skills acquired will last a life time.”

DeliaMacVicarJK/SKTeacher

CarletonVillageJr.&Sr.P.S.


Use your gears appropriately: Use low, easy gears for going up hills. Shift into a lower gear before you begin to work too hard. Use higher, harder gears when you begin to bounce on your seat from pedaling too fast.

On the level, use a gear that gives you a fast, easy leg spin – about 70–100rpm. Avoid exerting yourself in the highest gears, you could damage your knees by pushing too hard on the pedals.

Shift into a low, easy gear before stopping to make your start easier.

In case of a collision (with thanks to Toronto Cyclists Union http://bikeunion.to/) Remain calm, focus on your breathing. Call out to passerby who witnessed the collision – they are your witnesses. Call 911 – make sure that police attend any incident with another vehicle. Record the motor vehicle’s licence plate number (also, possibly the make, model and colour of the vehicle). Keep all driver and witness insurance/contact information as well as key statements. Always accept medical attention – you don’t know the extent of your injuries. Keep a record the incident report number and the investigating constable’s name. Sit, relax, call a friend, recover from shock. If you are a Bike Union member, contact them if you need further assistance.

Helmet fit Helmets are crucial in preventing or minimizing head injury however, they have to fit properly in order to do their job. Here are some guidelines to ensure proper helmet fit: There should be only two finger widths between your eyebrows and the rim of the helmet when it is on your head.

The straps should be flat against the sides of your face. The side straps should meet just below the ear, making a V shape under the ear lobes. The chin strap should be fastened snugly, with only enough room for one finger between your chin and the strap.


ExPANDiNG BiKE CuLTurE: KEy COmPONENTS OF ThE PrOjECTcommunity engagement & Volunteer coordination The Bike Project, like many community projects, was only able to flourish because of a team of dedicated volunteers. The key to success is to make sure volunteers are welcomed and valued as members of the team and to communicate regularly to ensure volunteers know what is going on or if plans are changed. As the bike project progressed, the demand for weekly clinics was evident, based on the number of people inter-ested in acquiring bike repair knowledge. Volunteers maintained a strong commit-ment to the project and established regular shifts. New volunteers continued to join the project over the busy summer period. Some people with bike knowl-edge joined to share these skills, while some volunteers looked to reduce isola-tion, while others wanted to improve their language skills. The Bike Project engaged volunteers who were not all available at the same time or their availability changed over the course of the project, and this sometimes created challenges with scheduling and for people to be able to participate. Early on we realized that to be inclusive we had to be flexible. This paid off very well as the majority of the team is still active two years on.

“I’ve been working on the project since the early pilot stages, and seen the interest increase dramatically. People see me on the street or in the centre and ask me about bikes and how to get their bikes fixed. I really enjoy working with the kids and everyone in the neighbourhood at the bike clinics each week. I liked seeing how much the community valued the efforts of the volunteers and staff on this project.”

LarryFirthSeniorVolunteer

“DPNCHC has been building community capacity in Davenport West for many years and has well established community development and volunteer programs.

All our programs support and encourage people to make a difference individually and within the community. Within this framework, we were able to introduce and quickly roll-out a new health promotion project that resonated with a wide range of community members.The diversity and enthusiasm of the project volunteers has enabled us to make a greater impact to improve the health of our neighbourhood”

Gabrielle LangloisDavenport West Bike Project Coordinator, DPNCHC


clinics The bike “clinics” became the core activity in the program as it progressed. The clinics averaged 3 hours in duration, and were simple to set-up. A few tables to hold the tools and parts, bike stands, and a sign that said “Free Bike Clinic” helped people get an idea of what was happening. If you have the budget or get donations, it is inviting to have water, juice and fresh fruit for everyone as it can get hot if you are outside. We tried scheduling the clinics during a few time slots we thought we work for the community. Once we found the best time, we found that scheduling the clinics at a consistent time every week increased awareness throughout the community.

Strategies for successful teams:

CommunicationMaintainopencommunication.Involvement & inclusivenessWelcome,promoteandrespectdiversityofage,culture,economicstatus.Solicit regular feedbackCommunicatefrequentlytoshareprogressandprovideopportunitiesforinput.Appropriate scale & scopeWelcomenewideas,butkindlyaffirmtheparametersoftheproject.Stayingfocusedwillhelpachievesuccessfuloutcomes.

Group planning & visioningEncouragecommunitymemberstocontributeideasandstrategiesthroughouttheprocess.Toaccomplishthis,usesurveys,focusgroups&meetings.Give positive, useful inputConsidersuggestionsfromvolunteersandcommunitymemberstoimprovetheproject.Have funLaughandshare.Thiswillkeeppeopleengagedandinspirethemtogivetheirall.

Build relationshipsUnderstandwhatmotivateseachvolunteertobeinvolvedintheproject.Consideranyfeedback,concernsorsuggestionsoffered.Information, mutual learningProvidevolunteersmanyopportunitiestobuildcommunicationskills,learnbikerepairskills,discussprojectgoals,chronichealthissues,saferidingtechniques.CollaborationConsultinternalandexternalstakeholdersregularly.

FlexibilityUnderstandpeople’sdemandsoutsideoftheinitiative,whichcanmakeconsistentattendancechallenging.Planforpossibleabsencesbyestablishingatleasttwoalternativeplanssothesessioncanstilloperate.Promote contributionsRecognizecontributions,formallyandinformally.(Nominateparticipantsforawards,thankthempublicly,consultthemforideasandinput,contactmediaforcoverage)

“Clinics are where we fix bikes for the public or teach them how to. We are fortunate to have skilled bike mechanics and a number of apprentices at varying levels of individual skill. Every mechanic performs at his skill level and readily refers more difficult tasks to another competent volunteer. It is a win/win situation where we benefit as a team and our clients as well. The more bikes repaired, the more bikes used.”

JohnSweeney,BikeProjectVolunteer

• 23Expanding Bike Culture: Key Components of the Project

The Stop uses DPNCHC’s backyard for the Good Food Market where the bike project has simultaneously run free bike clinics. The combination of the Good Food Market, the Bike Project and free pizza making in the outdoor wood oven, continues to draw a large crowd of community members.

In addition to learning about bike repair and healthy eating, the clinics provided opportunities for a range of people to meet, promoting social inclusion and cohesion.

Clinic checklist:

• Tools: Wrenches, tire levers, allen keys, pliers

• Air pump (manual / electric compressor)

• Bike stands: (some prefer the old school way of turning the bike upside down!)

• Spare parts: Old seats, bike racks, tires, whatever gets donated

• Old coffee tins for small items, clear storage boxes for larger items

• Bucket of water (to check for holes in tires)

• Cleaning supplies: Chain cleaner, degreaser, lubricant (TriFlo at MEC), hand-cleaner (GOJO), rags, paper towels

• Patch kits for tires inner tubes in various sizes

• Pen & Sign up (for recording stats)

• Name tags• Toronto Cyclist Guide• City of Toronto Bike Map


Volunteers: • Focused on encouraging social inter-

action and reducing social isolation• Learned new skills and had group

learning experiences• Learned problem solving skills• Increased self sufficiency• Engaged in leadership activities with

peers and the community Community participants: • Had free access to repair tools and

parts in support of safe, affordable transportation.

• Had opportunities to learn about other DPNCHC services in a non-institutional and friendly setting.

Davenport is characterized by railroads as we experienced on one of our group rides.


rides The Community Rides are a great way encourage participation in physical activity, while having fun. Two main items to consider when planning a group ride: (1) The destination: Is it interesting or relevant? Would it inspire you to ride your bike elsewhere? Is there a good route (connected bike lanes) to get there? (2) The time of day: Do the riders work or not (will determine avail-ability)? Do they have family responsibilities? Will there be heavier traffic issues on the roads? We also had a waiver form participants had to sign indicating the agency was not liable should anything happen on the ride. The Very First Ride: A small group did a pre-ride to assess the route for the group and to establish our route for the first group ride. The local West Toronto Railpath and High Park were our chosen as our first destinations. One of the hills was tiring for a few, but deterred no one from future rides. Luckily, we had brought a tire patch kit, which was needed! The ride ended back at DPNCHC for a group potluck and bbq. While most of the menu was based on our healthy eating mandate (salads, quinoa, fruit), it also included a few treats (ice cream, chocolate) that the kids loved.

“This project has brought a lot of people together. At the individual level, there’s been lots of learning, a gathering of knowledge about the community and great personal growth. At the community level, people are coming together that would not otherwise meet or work together. The Bike Project has also been a great vehicle to let others know about all the other services at the centre. Who knew there were so many activities for youth and seniors and all the health programs?!”

BrianMcLeanBikeProjectvolunteer


To help the group get to know each other, we engaged in an “ice-breaker” called Cocktail Party: partner with someone you don’t know and find three things you have in common and then share what you discovered about your partner with the rest of the group. This helped everyone get to know each other in a fun and relaxing way. For the last ride of the season: Based on rider feedback, we attached big orange flags to the lead/end bikes and some middle riders. We had a more complete bike repair kit with us and everyone had a bike map. We rode to Queen’s Park to the Word on the Street Book/Literacy festival. Everyone enjoyed the event, and hoped to return in future years. We ate lunch in the park – homemade veggie and meat patties, mixed green salad with fruit and seeds, and carrot cake. Next, the group went to Kensington Market for car-free/pedestrian Sunday. Group members enjoyed exploring the market, music and art.

One of the Bike Project volunteers, Fumiko, taught the group the hands-on basics of making sushi, expanding our knowledge of making healthy food.


Workshops for community Community Workshops are an effective way to share health informa-tion, generate interest in a project, recruit participants, and engage volunteers in activities. In line with our health promotion goals, we held workshops: • Healthy eating workshops with seniors• Bike repair clinics at drop-in programs• Measuring BMI (body mass index) with the health centre team• Safe riding and injury prevention workshops for parents & youth As a community organization, we held the workshops in conjunc-tion with existing programs, and also invited the general commu-nity to participate.

“DPNCHC has had such success in a short period of time because they have worked really hard to pull together members of the community, including neighbours and volunteers, local bike retailers, and cycling advocates. This has been absolutely critical to making the various bike programs happen in the first place, and more importantly, to keep programs sustainable. Without the partnerships the DPNCHC has cultivated, achievements like this would have been impossible.”

LenniEubanks,Founder,MyFirstWheels

(myfirstwheels.ca)

Formoreaboutcycling&health:http://www.sharetheroad.ca/cycling-health-and-safety-a-review-p128276


Volunteers share experiences:

“Getting involved in the project was meaningful and I valued the opportunity to engage with a new group of people.It was fun and rewarding.”

—MTP

“I was very happy to come to the project because it helped change my life and brought in positive energy. Also, the socializing helped me feel more comfortable talking to people in English.

The bike I got through the project helped me get to work faster and save some money. I also learned how to take care of my bike.”

—Xavier

“The program refreshed our mind in terms of bike repairs. We feel like we had something new to share with younger people. It was rewarding to see a happy face once their bike was fixed.”

—Cesar&Rafael

“Having seniors involved in the Bike Project breaks down stereotypes of what seniors do and are interested in.”

—O.P.

monitoring and evaluation How can we improve our ability to make a difference? Monitoring and evaluation provide feed-back on what we are doing, and whether it is effective. This is accomplished by collecting feed-back, used to improve public relations and promote the organization and/or program to its target population. The Bike Project conducted evaluations at multiple levels: project volunteers, workshop participants, and bike clinic attendance.

Tip: Evaluations can help with:

• Reviewingprogramdesign(andpossibleredesign)

• Assessingwhetheraprogramisfulfillingitspurpose

• Measuringthecost-effectivenessofaprogram

• Providinginformationforinformeddecisionmaking

• Gaugingtheprogram’slevelofeffectiveness,toenablereplicationelsewhere

• Communicatingresultswithstakeholdersanddevelopfinalreports

• Strengtheningthecredibilityofanorganizationanditsprograms.

Source:TheCleanAirPartnership/GreenestCityEvaluationToolkit.Formoreinformationcheckout:www.cleanairpartnership.org/intranet_bec


Project volunteers: Volunteers evaluated what they learned through the training sessions on health promotion, safe riding & injury prevention, and bike maintenance & repair; through individually completed surveys and two focus groups. In addition, they provided feedback on how they benefited from participating in the program: what they learned, community involvement and feedback for the project. Workshop participants: Completed a written survey to evaluate what they learned from the workshop and how it was facilitated. Bike clinics attendees: A record was kept of how many people attended the clinics, and when possible, their age group and the type of repair. We realized the importance of tracking types of repairs to ensure we had the correct parts and tools at each clinic. Over time, we discovered that we were supporting more children than we had originally expected.

“Working with the members of the Bike Project was very inspiring for me. I found that the commitment and dedication from the staff and volunteers were the keys towards the success of this project and the high regard it has in the community. The anecdotes from all and the excitement that I observed at the clinics were overwhelming. I thank you for allowing me to be a witness to this very valuable project”

MinaD.SinghRN,PhDCoordinator,Program

EvaluationUnitYorkInstituteforHealthResearchAssociateProfessorSchoolofNursing,

FacultyofHealth

Pictured above, MP Andrew Cash recog-nizing Bike Project volunteer, larry Firth, as an outstanding local citizen champi-oning healthy practices in our community.

Responses from youth who received a free bike:

Keziah – I feel happy and thank you for the bike.

Jackson – I feel excited to have a bike.

Malique – I feel happy that someone cares to give all of us bikes . I’m going to ride it all around the neighbourhood.

Mekdis – l feel happy and I’d like to go the park.

Jordan – It’s Awesome !!!!!

Stephan – I feel awesome and I’m going to ride it after school to see friends.

Dravid – I am going to ride it to Lakeshore and I’m happy.


APPENDiCES

Appendix A: Sample Volunteer Job Description

Appendix B: Sample Letter of Support for Grant Application

Appendix C: Sample Evaluation Form (Workshop)

Appendix D: Sample Evaluation/Attendance Form (Bike Clinic)

Appendix E: Sample flyer Outreach to Volunteers

Appendix F: Sample flyer to promote Clinics dates to community

Appendix G: Sample Job Posting for external Project Evaluator position

• 31Appendices

Appendix A: sample Volunteer job Description

Davenport Perth Neighbourhood & Community Health Centre

Volunteer Job Description Position: Davenport West Bike Project Volunteer Project Description: The Bike Project is a community initiative aimed at enhancing local capacity to address risk factors to health through the incorporation of a bike culture in the community. The project involves three central components: a) community outreach; b) education, training and skills building in bike repair, and health promotion practices (safe riding, healthy eating, and healthy riding); and community engagement (bike clinics, bike tours, and workshops). This project aims to act as a nucleus to gather those interested in improving their health, those interested in biking, and those that may face barriers to biking and are committed to continuing bike repair and bike riding activities long term. Duties and Responsibilities: Provide a welcoming and safe environment to participants and act in a respectful manner Work as part of a team to serve as health agents in community Attend training and workshops and share information learned with community Assist with set up/clean up of bike clinics and special events Contribute to promoting the project and to provide feedback on training and project Location: 1900 Davenport Rd and 1292 Bloor St west (some training) Days and Times: Volunteer qualifications required: Experience or interest in working with people, bikes, health promotion, community engagement Reliable, flexible, positive attitude Living in catchment area and able to speak a second language is an asset Supervisor: Davenport West Bike Project Coordinator Additional information: Expectations: It is expected that the Volunteer will be able to attend training , workshops and some bike clinics and rides during the project timeframe of September 2010 to February 2012. Volunteers register with the bike coordinator and agree to follow DPNC policies including anti-harrassment statement of principles and the confidentiality policy. In the case of illness or emergency the volunteer will notify their supervisor as soon as possible if they are unable to attend, so that other arrangements can be made for coverage. Volunteers Name: Signature _________________________________________________________ Date______________________________ Project Coordinator's Signature ________________________________________

Ai• Appendices

Appendix B: sample letter of support for Grant application

550 Eglinton Ave. W. | PO Box 23023 | Toronto, Ontario | M5N 3A8 | myfirstwheels.ca | 416 . 858 . 9947

4/9/2010

Gabrielle Langlois Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre 1900 Davenport Road Toronto Ontario M6N 1B7

Re: Letter of Support for Davenport West Bike Project

My first wheels! is excited to support Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre (DPNC), along with other community partners, in the creation of free self-help bicycle clinics and tours in the Davenport west neighbourhood.

This project is important to My first wheels! because we are dedicated to the idea that bicycles can have a direct impact an individual’s self-esteem, independence, and mobility. Bicycles and bicycle repairs can be impossibly expensive to low-income residents in the community. This project will help provide access to cycling by offering free basic bike repairs and free or low-cost recycled bicycles. It also aims to teach concrete skills that are immediately useful by offering free workshops on how to fix and maintain bikes, injury prevention and safe cycling education. The goals are to promote bicycle use, self-empowerment and education by providing an affordable place to get bikes and to fix them and learn to ride safely.

My first wheels! has experience in soliciting bike and related accessories donations, supporting bike repair workshops, communications, marketing and media relations. I am committed to contributing in-kind time to this project, and estimate the value of my hours as $2,500.

DPNC is an integral organization, providing medical and community services for over twenty years. I look forward to working with the DPNC and the volunteers to create a cooperatively run project that builds community and promotes health and recreation, and again encourage you to support its funding. If I may be of any other assistance, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Lenni Eubanks

Founder, My first wheels!

• BiAppendicesAppendices

Appendix C: sample evaluation form (Workshop)

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Please take a few minutes to complete the following questionnaire. Your evaluation of this session is important to help us make changes and improve it in the future.

1. I feel today’s session gave me knowledge about the ABC’s of bike maintenance

! ! ! ! !

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

2. I have a good overview of what the project goals are

! ! ! ! !


3. I feel the session’s format provided a good opportunity to engage in discussions, share concerns, information and opinions.

! ! ! ! !


4. I feel today’s session gave me practical ideas I can carry away and share with others (e.g. friends, family, community)

! ! ! ! !


5. Here are two important things (or more) I learned today and will share with others

Ci• Appendices

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6. Please feel free to add any comments about the session, topics, facilitators, space, etc.

Thank you!

We appreciate your assistance and cooperation.

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Please take a few minutes to complete the following questionnaire. Your evaluation of this session is important to help us make changes and improve it in the future.

1. I feel today’s session gave me knowledge about the ABC’s of bike maintenance

! ! ! ! !


2. I have a good overview of what the project goals are

! ! ! ! !


3. I feel the session’s format provided a good opportunity to engage in discussions, share concerns, information and opinions.

! ! ! ! !


4. I feel today’s session gave me practical ideas I can carry away and share with others (e.g. friends, family, community)

! ! ! ! !


5. Here are two important things (or more) I learned today and will share with others

!

!

6. Please feel free to add any comments about the session, topics, facilitators, space, etc.

Thank you!

We appreciate your assistance and cooperation.

!

• CiiAppendices

Appendix D: sample evaluation/attendance form (Bike clinic)

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Di• Appendices

Appendix E: sample flyer outreach to Volunteers

The Davenport West Bike Project, whichis committed to promoting bike cultureand healthy living, is looking to build a

core team of volunteers to help runthe project and spread the

word about this excitingnew biking initiative.

Volunteers will learn bikerepair skills, organize free

community bike clinics,and lead group rides.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Doyou like bikes?

for a newCommunity Bike Project!

To become part of this exciting team apply by emailing Gabrielle Langlois at [email protected], calling at416.656.8025 x377 or stop by DPNC at 1900 Davenport Rd (west of Lansdowne). Training provided.

**

Would you like to get moreinvolved in your community?

All ages welcome. No previous experience with bikesnecessary. Second language an asset.

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• EiAppendices

Appendix F: sample flyer to promote clinics dates to community

Avoid costly repairs, learn how to fix your bike (tires,brakes) so you can maintain it yourself. Make sureyou’re safe, learn to do a simple bike inspection.

Ride around the neighbourhood, meet people in the community! Look forannouncements on future rides. Volunteers and donations needed.

Free bikeclinics and communitybike rides

at DPNC

FREE BIKE CLINICS:

GUIDED COMMUNITY RIDES:

Marcelo Castro ([email protected]), Gabrielle Langlois ([email protected]). Or call us at 416.656.8025 and stop by DPNC at 1900 Davenport Rd.

Tue • June 22 • 4-6:30pm(Good Food Market)Wed • July 28 • 4-6:30pmWed • Aug 18 • 4-6:30pmSat • Sept 18 • Noon-2pm(Good Food Festival)

When:

Where: DPNC:1900 Davenport Road (in the back garden)

INfo:

Fi• Appendices

Appendix G: sample job Posting for external Project evaluator position

Request for Proposal - Project Evaluator - Davenport West Bike Project Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre (DPNC) is a multi-service community agency committed to furthering community development and health promotion activities for all ages. A United Way Agency, the Centre specializes in programs ranging from early years to youth, isolated adults, health and seniors. The Project Evaluator will implement and ovesee the evaluation process for the Davenport West Bike Project, a community initiative aimed at enhancing local capacity to address risk factors to health through the incorporation of a bike culture in the community. The project is funded by the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport and involves three central components: a) community outreach; b) education, training and skills building in bike repair, and health promotion practices (safe riding, healthy eating, and healthy riding); and c) community engagement (bike clinics, bike tours, and workshops). Abreviated Responsibilities • Clarify evaluation goals and questions and develop a workplan that governs the implementation of

the evaluation • Ensure effective consultion with appropriate stakeholders about evaluation methods • Design evaluation questionaires/focus group questions for training/curriculum • Compile and analyze data • Design evaluation qustionaires for participants at workshops, clinics and rides • Prepare draft report and discuss results • Prepare interim and final funder report (relevant sections) The selected candidate will demonstrate: • Experience working with not for profit and community-based organizations • graduate degree/undertaking a graduate degree in a relevant field • Successful experience as community project evaluator or other evaluation projects • Excellent interviewing, writing, and communication skills • Time management skills; ability to work within established budgets and timelines • Availability to attend to attend a workshop and/or clinic to observe

Time frame: January 2011 to March 2012 Submission Requirements:

- Submission should include: a resume and cover letter, estimated fees, and 2 examples of relevant work

- Proposal due by: - Submit proposal to:

Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre encourages applications from candidates whose background is diverse in

terms of culture, race, language, religion, class, gender/sexual orientation and ability.

Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

• GiAppendices

Gii • Davenport West Bike Project ToolKit

the davenport west bike project...

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