Bicycle Safety Education Overview

CyclingSavvy

Cycling Savvy is a new traffic cycling course developed for the Florida Bicycle Association. The course teaches the principles of Mindful Bicycling:

  • empowerment to act as confident, equal road users;
  • strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling;
  • tools to read and problem-solve any traffic situation or road configuration.

The course is offered in three 3-hour components: a bike-handling session, a classroom session and an on-road tour. The classroom and bike-handling sessions may be taken individually, the road tour requires the other two as a pre-requisite.

The object of the course is not to turn people into road warriors. Being a confident, competent cyclist has nothing to do with speed or bravado. You don’t need either of those things to have access to the entire transportation grid.

Even most confident cyclists prefer to use quiet routes when feasible. In many cases, it is only an intimidating intersection or short stretch of busy road which hinders a cyclist’s preferred route. This course is designed to show students simple strategies to eliminate such barriers, and ride with ease and confidence in places they might never have thought possible.

The philosophy and intent of our course is best described in this quote by Aimee Mullins:

…all you really need is one person to show you the epiphany of your own power and you’re off. If you can hand somebody the key to their own power… the human spirit is so receptive… if you can do that and open a door for someone at a crucial moment… you are ‘educating’ them in the best sense. You’re teaching them to open doors for themselves.

In fact, the exact meaning of the word “educate’ comes from the root word ‘educe.’ It means to bring forth what is within. To bring out potential.

Learn more and sign up for course notices at CyclingSavvy.org

Safe Cycling for Adults Agenda – 4 hours

In this four-hour course you will learn how to safely operate your bicycle in a variety of situations. You will gain confidence knowing, through interactive discussion and on-bike skills practice, that you are riding legally and safely.

15 min.

Introductions, Course Overview, & Purpose

45 min.

Bike Selection & Fit, Helmet Fit, Repair & Maintenance

30 min.

Traffic Laws, Roadway Position, Types of Bicycling Facilities

30 min.

Safe Riding Skills Video & Discussion

15 min.

Break

15 min.

Gear, Gadgets, Grub & Goodies

30 min.

Basic Bicycling Knowledge & Skills - Review & Discussion of LAB Better Bicycling Fact Sheets

50 min.

Bike Skills

10 min.

Evaluations & Graduation
Group Ride

Safe Cycling for Families Agenda – 2.75 hours

Similar to Safe Cycling for Adults but integrates activities and course work more suitable for children.

15 min.

Introductions, Course Overview, and Purpose

15 min.

Laws Applicable To Bicyclists And Motorists

15 min.

Age & Experience Factors

15 min.

Types Of Bicycling And Walking Facilities

15 min.

Helmet Use & Proper Fitting

15 min

Basic Repair and Maintenance Tips

30 min

Safe Riding Skills Video & Discussion

45 min.

Basic Bicycling Knowledge And Skills
Review & Discussion of LAB Better BicyclingFact Sheets

Optional (Requires Additional Time):

30 min.

Practicing What’s Been Learned (On-Bike, Controlled Environment)

30 min.

Group Ride or More Practice

Traffic Skills 101 Agenda – 9 hours
(formerly Road 1)

This class gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. Recommended for adults and children above age fourteen, this fast-paced, nine-hour course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling.

Two types are offered: Road 1 for Professionals is tailored for planners, engineers, designers; and law enforcement. Road 1 includes all others.

30 min.

Introductions

60 min.

Getting Started
The Bicycle: Bike Selection; Bike Fit; Bike Parts; Helmet Fit; Accessories: Clothing, Equipment, Lights &Conspicuity; Foot Retention;

15 min.

Break

15 min.

You and Your Bicycle
Gears, Posture, Cadence, Food, Water

30 min.

Bike Maintenance
Tools, Minor Adjustments

30 min.

Hands on Bike Fit

60 min.

Principles of Cycling With Traffic
STREET SKILLS: Laws; Width Positioning, Speed Positioning; Destination Positioning, Lane Changes, Intersections and Turns

60 min.

Crashes & Crash Avoidance
Dogs, Children & Other Cyclists
Wind Blast, Surface Defects, Railroad Tracks, Sidewalk Hazards
Cyclist/Motorist Crashes

15 min.

Break; Prepare for On-Bike Skills

90 min.

Basic Skills
ABC Quick Check, Mounting, Power Pedal, Shoulder Check
Rock Dodge
Advanced Skills
Quick Stop, Instant Turn

60 min.

Lunch

30 min.

Changing a Flat Tire

45 min.

Road Test

15 min.

Break

20 min.

Written Test

10 min.

Feedback; Graduation

Become a League Cycling Instructor

League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) offer courses to suit the needs of any cyclist. Certified, insured and equipped to teach anything from basic skills to college level courses, LCIs are the experts in bicycle education and safety. Courses offered include: Road I, Road II, Commuting, Motorist Ed, Kids I and Kids II. LCI's can also offer modified versions of these courses and design bike rodeos and provide general safety consulting.

LCI Certification

Becoming a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) certified to teach BikeEd is a great way to help cyclists in your community. Certified instructors can teach BikeEd classes to children as well as adults. Help bring the joy of safe cycling to others. If you are an experienced cyclist and would like to teach others please consider taking the next step towards certification. Road I is a prerequisite for a certification seminar. Instructors are trained at seminars held periodically throughout the year.

The LCI training seminar is normally one evening and two full days. The registration fee is $200 and includes the League Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Cycling book, Enjoy the Ride DVD and BikeEd instructor materials. All registration information and payment MUST be received at least 30 days prior to the seminar. There must be a minimum of 10 instructor candidates in each seminar.

Once you have become a League Cycling Instructor, there are annual requirements for remaining certified, including:

Keeping League membership current. Renewing LCI status with the League once a year. Teaching or otherwise being active in your cycling community.

For more information about becoming an LCI, visit LAB's website

All workshops are scheduled based on demand in any particular area of the state.

Alternative Transportation Education (ATE)

Overview and History

Seminole County Community Traffic Safety Team detailed study of traffic fatalities Most pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities had suspended or revoked licenses Judge Bravo approached with idea for safety course Seminole County CTST meets with FBA & Metroplan Orlando to develop course.

Additional goals:

  • Explain benefits of alternate modes
  • Make offenders less likely to get behind the wheel
  • Make them better drivers for when they do get back behind the wheel

Course Elements

3-Hour Course Covers:
Taxi, Car Pool, Van Pool
Other Motorized Vehicles and Devices
Walking
Transit
Bicycling

Class Statistics: 2006-2010

1942 students
74% male; 26% female
Modes of Transportation
35% walk
19% bike
14% taxi
7% carpool
22% use Lynx (Orlando area bus system)
61% friends and family

Bike Ed Courses

CyclingSavvy

Safe Cycling for Adults

Safe Cycling for Families

Traffic Skills 101

League Cycling Instructor Seminars

Alternative Transportation Education (ATE)

Sign-up Forms for TS101

First Coast TS101

South Florida TS101

   
   

Florida Bicycle Association | P.O. Box 916715 | Longwood FL 32791-6715

The Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) was incorporated in 1997 for educational and charitable purposes.
FBA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Donations, including membership dues, are tax-deductible.
A copy of the current financial statements may be obtained by contacting
FBA, P.O. Box 916715, Longwood FL 32791-6715.