Youth En Route

Inspiring safe, active travel to school and beyond

 

 

Students at Robert Thirsk HS adjust gears on a bike during outdoor education class.

About Youth En Route

Look at any bike rack at a High School on a sunny day. Chances are you won’t find many bikes. For many youth, bikes were fun in elementary school, but usage as a mode of transportation decreases with age.

Why? It’s more difficult than you might think. Many schools have bike racks that aren’t secure. Student’s don’t have strong U-Locks and are worried about theft. Students who only see Calgary from the seat of a car don’t know the safest routes or the rules for biking. At one of our schools, 11 per cent of students told us they’d never ridden a bike.

This is why Youth En Route was created in 2021. We want youth to have a green, healthy choice to get to school. Our programming and projects empower youth to be able to make this choice.

 

 

Take a look at what we are doing:

Improved bike rack at Lester Pearson HS, full of bikes. We’ve created a new and improved bike rack design
We’ve delivered Adaptive Bikes to six Calgary High Schools, with more on their way. Every student can ride!
Youth en Route delivers adaptive trikes to special classes in CBE High Schools
students learn how to find the best route
BOB students find the best and safest route to where they want to go
Forest Lawn HS welding students work on YERs new and improved school bike rack

 

See our recent posts

Bike Bike rack gives broken bikes a new stationary life
Youth en Route collects donated and salvaged bikes, fixes them up and gets them into…
May 8, 2023
We’re hiring a Website and Communication Assistant
We’re on the hunt for an awesome student or recent graduate to join our team…
April 21, 2023
Inspiring maps to get you on your way
When we ask students “Why don’t you cycle places? Across the city, 21% of students…
April 19, 2023
Spring clean up season means bike donations
It’s that time of year. Calgarians are eager to clean their garages, basements and reduce…
April 5, 2023
Adaptive Bike Project gets special kids rolling
In July, Youth en Route applied for a “Return to Play grant from KidsSport Alberta…
March 14, 2023
Video aims to reduce bike theft in Calgary
We see it time and again. Keen cyclist / high school student rides bike to…
March 8, 2023

 

About Us

About our Organization:

Youth En Route aims to break down the barriers that stop students from using active transportation to get to school. It could be lack of secure storage facilities, not knowing the safest or easiest routes to use or lack of basic equipment – wheels, helmet or locks. We will help on all fronts. We will engage to understand the barriers, and then secure funding, partners and provide support to break them down.

Mission

Youth en Route champions, inspires and supports active transportation to school and beyond. 

Vision

Youth are empowered to use active and independent ways to get where they are going. 

Incorporated on May 11, 2021 as 13008037 Canada Association. Registered Charity 758178461RR0001

 

Shiv Ruparell: Chair

 

Laura Shutiak: Executive Director

 

Join us in supporting active student transportation! We always welcome new groups to partner with. Let’s work together on shared infrastructure, ideas and equipment – to make all of our funds go further, and get more kids out of cars and using independent, active and green transportation.

 

 

How to get involved

There are various ways that you can get involved in our initiative.

Sign up your school

Reach out if you would like Youth En Route
at your school next year.

 

Support us

Read more about ways you can support
Youth En Route.

 

Contact Us

Want more information about Youth En Route?
We would love to chat.