Cycle For Life: DVD

Influences & Motivators
for Youth Cyclists

Talking about bikes, bicycle activism, the environment, the car-culture & what six youths (16-20yrs) love about cycling!

24-minutes
$25 + taxes and shipping

Testimonials

Bridget Glasgow

I chose (the issue of) transport after working with Arthur in secondary schools because of his expertise and huge range of creative ideas for engaging youth... Already the youth have initiated more action back in their own region than the previous years because of Arthur's facilitation skills which enabled them to have a deeper understanding and perspective of transport in Auckland and the western world. Arthur also provided simple and practical ideas that the students could implement and be effective in making a difference.

publications

Arthur Orsini has written extensively on child and youth engagement in sustainable transportation – in newspapers, magazines, journals and books.

Forthcoming, Spring 2010: Learning Without Teaching: Youth-Led Programs To Reduce Car-Trips To School, a chapter in Emancipatory Practices: Adult/Youth Engagement for Social and Ecological Justice by Sense Publishers

Role Models in Active Transportation - Biking from the top down

by Jane Sayers & Arthur Orsini

Chris Kelly stands in a Vancouver bike shop along Fourth Avenue trying to choose a new bike. He has an appointment with the store manager to get advice about what type of bike will suit him best. Cycling to work, Kelly hopes, will be a way of cutting back on driving.

He got to this point slowly. His son and daughter -both in their early 20’s- are enthusiastic cyclists and a few of his friends regularly commute by bike. However, a few days after picking-up his cross-trail bike, Kelly is not yet ready to call himself a cyclist. "I almost commuted this morning, just as a case in point, because I thought, well I've got a day that will allow me to do that. And in retrospect, I should have, but I just wasn't as ready..." he reflects from his office on West Broadway.

Emotional and Community Health Benefits for Youth Cyclists

by Arthur Orsini, M.A. (Env. Ed.)

Youth Engagement Facilitator ~ Urbanthinkers

Arthur has worked with children and youths on sustainable transportation projects since 1995. His consulting agency – Urbanthinkers – explores creative strategies for student leaders to engage their peers in walking and cycling activities. The focus of this work very often supports youth leadership and the social dynamic of self-propelled travel as fun, fast, independent and fit. Arthur has worked in communities across British Columbia and in Auckland, NZ. In 2000, he received an OECD award for developing Off Ramp – a secondary school car-trip reduction program. He lives car-free with his family in Vancouver, Canada.

This article appeared in Eingana – the Journal of the Victorian Association for Environmental Education (Melbourne) December 2005 (pg. 30-32).

Engaging and Empowering Youth Leaders

Abstract

This paper outlines experiences gained in a collaborative approach to involve teenagers in the development of a sustainable transport program. The fundamental lesson learned was that it was beneficial for youths to be engaged in a topic before being educated on it. Mentoring, training and support were the primary characteristics in building rapport with youth leaders. This non-coercive process enabled the youths to shape the look and feel of the outreach directed at their peers. The youth leaders were empowered to select and adapt objectives to suit their character and community. The program co-ordinator’s main role was as a mentor – facilitating collaboration between other youth groups, resources and colleagues. Overall, the program was designed to build upon incentives that the youths valued; skill-building, environmental awareness, social interaction and a broader understanding of program issues.