In the Alberni Valley on Vancouver Island, an ATV club is taking steps to prioritize safety. Phyllis Biggs, the vice president of the Alberni Valley Hill Climbers, told RidersWest about the club’s endeavors to ensure safe riding, including participating in the Canada Safety Council ATV training course.

Enthusiastic and eager

“There were 14 people in that and it went over two days,” said Biggs. “We have six more that want to do it.”

A certified trainer travelled to Port Alberni to teach over half of the club’s members about topics such as environmental friendliness, correct body movements and proper dress. Biggs said that the course was exceptionally well received and offered something for riders of all calibres.

“One person mentioned that because he’d had a stroke, he had use of one side of his body,” said Biggs. “The things he learned allowed him to utilize his body without using so much energy to go through rougher spots.”

Helping novice riders

Biggs has also gained certification as an instructor for the Ride With Pride program. A new initiative targeting younger riders, this program, conducted in schools and taking about an hour, emphasizes standardized safe ATV practices and environmental awareness.

“The course is geared towards Grades 4 through 7, but I think anyone new to riding should be doing this,” said Biggs. “Even people who have been riding for years can stand to learn something.”

Is the push for safer riding techniques making a difference? Biggs said that the May long weekend has historically brought tragedy to the local ATVing community.

“I was really thrilled to hear,” Biggs said, “that this (May long) weekend, to my knowledge, was the first May long weekend that someone hasn’t died or been seriously injured in Port Alberni in about 10 years . . . I’m crossing my fingers.”