| Where: | Mode of Transport: | Type of Intervention: |
| 8 elementary schools and 2 libraries in Vaughan | Cycling, E-Scooter, E-Bike | Outreach, Education, Cycling Awareness |
Background
The extension of Ontario’s e-scooter pilot in York Region and Vaughan makes understanding these rules increasingly important. With funding from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Road Safety Community Partnership Program grant, this project aimed to improve road safety and awareness of Ontario’s bicycle, e-bike and e-scooter rules among primary-aged children and their parents/guardians in Vaughan.
The Opportunity
As bicycles and micromobility vehicles become more available and accessible, confusion remains about safety rules and where riding is permitted. Our team at pointA was well-positioned to bridge that knowledge gap, as we regularly educate, promote and create materials that encourage active transportation alongside our municipal partners.
This project has two core objectives:
- Educate children and their caregivers with practical safety skills and knowledge to ride responsibly.
- Encourage active transportation by reducing safety-related barriers and promoting biking and micromobility options as healthy, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly options for both school and work commutes.
How pointA Helped
In May 2026, pointA held 23 workshops in eight elementary schools in Vaughan. In September 2026, our team members facilitated two weekend workshops in two Vaughan Public Library branches with primary-aged children and their caregivers. These interactive workshops taught them how to:
- Properly select and fit a helmet
- Perform a basic A-B-C bike safety check
- Identify safe routes to school and community destinations using Vaughan’s cycling infrastructure
- Use Google Maps and other tools to plan active and multi-modal trips (school and work commutes)
To reinforce the information, we conducted on-the-spot quizzes and winners of knowledge checks received a reflective snap band and a sticker.
The team at pointA designed a 12-page take-home activity workbook for students, which included quizzes, checklists, and activities about bike parts and road signs.
Provided by our partners at York Region and the City of Vaughan, students received freebies, such as bike lights or bells. Participating teachers received a cycling handbook, cycling maps, and trail guides.
Results
The workshops were successful and we exceeded our targets.
- We engaged 554 students and 49 caregivers in total.
- 100% of participants were very satisfied with the workshops.
- 89% of parents and guardians will attend another workshop in the future.
- 100% of the schools invited us to return for future programming.
- Students and parents were excited about the cycling workbook we created and designed.
Participants increased their confidence and willingness to use active transportation modes, having gained a better understanding of safety and infrastructure through our workshops.
Future workshops will aim to strengthen parent-child engagement in sustainable mobility practices, supporting a long-term shift toward safer and healthier road use behaviour. By engaging both students and parents/guardians, this project supported a culture of shared responsibility and sustainable travel behaviour, helping to make Vaughan’s streets safer and more accessible for all.