Risk Management and Insurance

One of the most important aspects of running a successful Chapter is ensuring that safety protocols and appropriate insurance coverage are in place to mitigate any concerns with risk and liability for you, your volunteers, your partners, and program participants.

This is where working with Cycling Without Age Canada proves invaluable.

There is no other organization providing this kind of service, let alone with our degree of experience. We have developed an incredible global network of support and inspiring people to act. Our jumpstart program considers the typical mobility and health issues faced by our passengers, and the experience we have gained by having so many bikes in the field. We work directly with medical professionals, age-friendly groups and selected bike manufacturers to provide new freedom beyond the walls of a residence. The hundreds of thousands of passenger experiences from all over the world have driven continuous improvement in the design of our approach, with feedback from the field yielding safer and more engaging rides for our passengers and pilots.

CWA Canada specifically has played a key role in helping develop the global collaboration tools, jumpstart program and maintains key relationships in Australia, Denmark, Scotland, and Singapore where national programs are in place.

Insurance

One of the first challenges you’ll encounter when starting a CWA chapter is the question of insurance, for pilots, volunteers, the bike and passengers. Depending on who your chapter has partnered with, many organizations can simply name Cycling Without Age Canada within their existing insurance policies (Usually at no additional cost) However, if this is not available, We have negotiated chapter Insurance options nationally through Oasis Outdoor Adventure & Sport Insurance Solutions Inc.
(Link to Oasis application)

Facilitating safe rides

It’s the job of a CWA chapter to make sure that it’s facilitating safe rides for its pilots and passengers. One of the most important aspects of managing risk is making sure that all relevant personnel know how to safely operate the bike. This starts with making sure that pilots follow a comprehensive training program. Another aspect of facilitating safe rides is making sure that passengers are in good physical condition to participate. This is largely dependent on the care facility’s or partner’s own policies as well as the resources available to facilitate safer rides for passengers. Work with your care providers to carefully determine who can safely participate in the rides. From our interviews with CWA chapters, some facilities are more restrictive and exclude passengers with dementia, those with neck or back issues (the bike does not have a neck belt to keep the neck in a safe position), and those with high body weight (one facility denied a passenger who weighed more than 320 pounds). A physiotherapist at one facility had concerns with a passenger with osteoarthritis.

Getting on/off the bike constitutes the most physically demanding activity for many passengers. Assistive technologies can help overcome this challenge. Some facilities have access to a mechanical lift that they used to assist passengers with getting on and off the bikes. Others use a board to slide riders from a wheelchair onto the Bike. For passengers with reduced ability, a care facility staff or personal care worker can accompany the passenger for the ride.

In terms of weather conditions, it’s advisable to avoid riding in extreme weather conditions, i.e. snow/ice conditions, heavy rainfall, and extreme heat.

Pilot and Passenger Liability Waivers

A key aspect of managing risk and reducing liability is having both pilots and passengers sign liability waivers. Refer to the CWACA Chapters Only section for access to the Jumpstart package for an example of a passenger waiver and an example of a pilot waiver.
While you are welcome to use the forms provided in Jumpstart, some facilities maintain their own waivers that must be used.

Volunteer Pilots

CWA is a worldwide success because of its thousands of trained and dedicated volunteer trishaw pilots. This section discusses volunteer recruitment strategies, screening procedures, and training procedures.

Recruiting New Volunteers:
Sometimes care facility staff will volunteer to take their clients out on rides. In all other cases, you’re relying on community volunteers to pilot the trishaw bikes. There are various strategies that can be used to recruit volunteers for your chapter. The following are some strategies that have been used by other CWACA Chapters:

Word of Mouth – As knowledge about the program increases, people may begin approaching your program without you having to do any targeted outreach.

Social Media and News Outlets – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and care facility newsletters can all be great ways to get the word out that you need volunteers for your program. Posting to local volunteer boards can garner additional interest.

Outreach to organizations – Consider reaching out to local cycling clubs— they’re a source of competent riders who might enjoy the opportunity of sharing their skills to help your program.

Volunteer Recruitment Tips

Make sure external organizations can easily contact you (e.g., have an email address you check regularly), as often times individuals and organizations will reach out with their interest to partake in the program.
Invite family members of residents to become pilots (children and parents can take their grandparent out on the bike!).
Contact the local police force or other service organization to volunteer on a monthly basis—volunteering helps improve public relations and image.
When recruiting, make sure to mention the benefits that volunteers may gain from participating in CWA (e.g., physical activity, storytelling with seniors, volunteer appreciation events).
Consider bringing postcards with information about your chapter on bike rides so that they can be passed out to community members if any approach you while you’re out on your ride.
Training staff members at your facility as pilots may be useful for situations when there are no volunteers available to take residents out on bike rides.From our interviews, care facilities reported that once their chapter had established a network of volunteers, ongoing recruitment continues to occur through their pre-existing volunteer program, in which a position would be extended to interested applicants applying to a general position at their facility

Screening volunteers

Screening volunteers ensures that you’re recruiting committed, responsible and suited volunteers who will minimize any undue risks when taking seniors out on rides. Each CWA chapter has its own pilot requirements that are best suited for them
Taken from interviews with existing chapters as well as the global community (The Hood) please see the following list of requirements for your volunteers that you may wish to adopt:

Drivers licence (e.g. G1)
Age (e.g. 18-80, teenagers; check the insurance policy as some policies indicate age requirements for coverage)
Criminal record police check/Vulnerable sector police check
Skillful riders/adequate biking skills
Physically fit
Covid Vaccination Passport
Volunteer requirements as per the partner facility’s policies within your jurisdiction.

In general, volunteers should fill out an application to help ensure they meet your requirements.