Get the most out of cycling in HRM by taking advantage of learning opportunities and research about all things cycling-related. Whether you’re looking for basic bicycle riding instruction, maintenance skills, winter riding tips, or looking to gain confidence riding on city streets, we have ongoing opportunities to help you get the skills you need. We also have partnerships with researchers studying cycling in HRM, at the Halifax Bike Lab, and Simon Fraser University and we help to share the results of their research with the community.
Learning Events
You can find our upcoming events here. Additional learning opportunities can be found through contacting Bicycle Nova Scotia’s list of Can-Bike instructors, MEC, the Dal Bike Centre, Bike Again, and the Halifax Regional Municipality. These organizations have events on a regular basis – please see their websites for the latest events and registration information.
Urban Cycling 101 Course
The Halifax Cycling Coalition in partnership with Making Tracks offers Urban Cycling 101 courses in the spring, summer, and fall. We teach you all of the basics for getting comfortable on your bike and then we head out to a nearby parking lot to practice on our bikes. You need to bring your bike with you, and if you don’t have one, you can rent a bike from Halifax Cycles or I Heart Bikes. Upcoming courses will be posted on our events page. We are adapting courses to follow public health guidelines related to COVID-19.
Private Lunch & Learns
If you would like to schedule a private session for your workplace or community group, please contact us. We provide Lunch & Learn opportunities for you and your colleagues to gain the skills needed to ride in Halifax. Get in touch for pricing and availability.
Where can I fix my bike for free?
You already have the skills, and the time. But your apartment has no room for tools, or your house is far away and you need to adjust your brakes. Check out Halifax’s growing network of public bicycle repair stands, which include tools and pumps, and are publicly accessible 24/7. There are also free community repair centers with tools to use and mechanics to answer questions at Bike Again and the Dal Bike Centre.
Learn Online
Mountain Equipment Co-op “how-to” guides for cycling:
- How to buy a bike
- How to choose a bike helmet
- How to choose bike tires
- How to lock your bike
- How to bike with kids
- How to get ready for winter riding, also see our cycling in winter tips
- How to choose bike lights
- How to clean and lube a bike chain
- How to wash your bike
- How to fix a flat tire
Mobility Equity Resources:
- Why We Must Talk About Race When We Talk About Bikes: Systemic Racism Can’t Be Fixed Without Tackling it Within Cycling – Tamika Butler
- Bicycling Magazine: 14 Stories from Black People Who Love Bikes
- Whose Streets? Black Streets – Amina Yasin
- Engaging People with Disabilities in Street Planning and Design: 11 Tips for Getting it Right – Toole Design
- Spreading Mobility Justice: with Adonia Lugo
Atlantic Active Alliance Resources:
- Common Myths About Active Transportation & Evidence to Confront Them
- Benefits of Active Transportation
- Bike Safety in HRM: Videos created by Making Tracks
Other Resources: