Stuart Saavedra talks about his Cyclist in Residence experience
By Stuart Saavedra
I started my position as a Cyclist in Residence with Youth en Route in late August. I had worked with Youth en Route for a few days at Robert Thirsk High School last school year, and was excited to apply for, and then get, the job. It got even better once we started.
From September until November, we worked at different schools, and with a wide range of classes. It was quite the experience. There is so much diversity and the students bring a wide range of perspectives that really opened my eyes. Some kids already loved biking, and either frequently rode to school or biked with their families in the Mountains. But there were also kids who had never ridden a bike, much less owned one.
Different Experiences
A prime example was a pair of students at Forest Lawn High School with similar skills (or rather lack of skills) yet a different history as to why they do not ride bikes.
One student had a bad fall when he was learning at age six. He was simply scared of getting back on the bike and most individuals without proper support would most likely never get on a bike again. Another student moved around a lot, and just never had anyone that was willing to teach him. I could see the doubt in their eyes about how the time and effort from CIR staff shouldn’t be, and I quote “wasted on us and someone more better or deserving of it instead”. Despite that, these Grade 11 students still have that will and keen side of them to learn and adapt.
I loved seeing the back and forth between these two students as they helped each other and talked about why they wanted to learn. I quickly realized that part of what I needed to share was that cycling was not only a hobby but also transportation and independence. They both came out with a strong willingness to overcome challenges whether it was balance, basic riding, and using gears.
I was incredibly proud to see them go from unsure or uncomfortable just sitting on a bike to having both of them figure out proper bike fitting, use of gears, and complete our slalom course which tested turning and balance. It was less so repeating instructions to them and more so just having them enjoying bikes as they are which also came with a sense of community. It was everything I wanted to see in students working together in something they both appreciate.
Putting mechanics skills to the test
One of the obstacles of the CIR job was dealing with broken parts and trying to fix bikes on the fly. One challenge was to explain my process on a student’s bike who was impatiently watching as they were eager to catch up with friends. Not only did I want to get the bike rolling safely again, but I wanted to challenge them to consider how they could approach this mechanical issue. In reality there aren’t bike mechanics on your daily commute so having the students think about these problems was key.
I improved with experience and exposure to different age groups. I knew I left an impact because of how keen the students were. It was also amazing how they recalled details about me, the rest of the CIR crew and previous lessons, days or even weeks after our initial class day.
Ultimately most, if not all, students we worked with had moments of freedom and laughter from the activities Rob, John and I as Cyclists in Residence came up with and had them do. That joy contributed to our success, teaching about cycling for both the environment and for yourself as a person.
Standing at the front of a classroom and speaking to a group of youth was intimidating at first. I hoped that my words would resonate with them and they’d take it in and actually learn something.
It was a battle between me thinking how I SHOULD teach the class and how I NEED to teach the class and finding creative solutions to issues.
Becoming a role model
Being part of Youth en Route and having the honour to teach bike related activities to youth is now a key part of who I am both individually and as a role model for them. I’m able to share that I don’t drive a car, but I can still work neat jobs and get around independently. It was really neat to work at Forest Lawn High School. I graduated from there not too long ago.
I went all into the world of education and I loved it. Now, I really see myself as more than just a guest teacher for students. I want to finish university and get a teaching degree. I love the interaction between students. It’s been a very fulfilling role and I can’t see where it takes me in the future.
