Most of us learned by the "shove down the driveway" method of instruction. From there, we were taught that "it's dangerous out there."
Not necessarily true!
Are you interested in developing skills that would increase your confidence while bicycling in traffic? Bicycling is more than balancing; bicyclist education is more than a shove down the driveway!
In class, we'll discuss some of the common myths about the "dangers of cycling" and you'll be introduced to some basic skills and traffic strategies you can employ to make your cycling experience safer and more enjoyable. We'll spend some time in a parking lot practicing some fundamental bike maneuvers and we'll take short rides on public streets with an eye toward understanding how to better fit into the traffic flow.
The core concept of this program of instruction is that bicyclists fare best on the road when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles. The New York State Vehicle Code explicitly states that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. The class teaches how to make this concept into a safe and enjoyable practice with guidance and opportunity for cyclists of all skill levels.
Cyclists of all skill and experience levels have found the class a valuable learning experience.
"I've been road biking for some time but I took this class thinking I might brush up on some skills. The class did far more than that! I learned new and useful techniques for riding in traffic and in groups and found the learning environment extremely congenial." s.e.
"Although I was an experienced cyclist when I signed up for the class, riding in traffic made me nervous and fearful. Taking this class, I learned a lot about the right way to cycle in traffic and gained the knowledge to ride confidently, visibly and courteously in any traffic conditions." - m.b.
"This class taught me many useful skills that I find myself using often when riding here in Ithaca, on roads and off road as well." - m.m.
"This is an excellent class for both new and experienced cyclists. Lois and Sue provide lively lectures and hands-on rides to improve your skills and knowledge about biking, safety and repairs." - d.d.
"The class gave me the skills and confidence I needed to join my husband on bike rides. Our bike rides have been great fun, great exercise and I've seen beautiful countryside! The class taught me practical things about safety, maneuvering in traffic, and how to adjust my bike for proper and comfortable posture. It was a great combination of lecture and hands on. I highly recommend the class!" - j.m.
"I highly recommend the "Bikes Skills Class" sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. We are fortunate to have certified trainers in Ithaca that offer the course locally. After many years of riding my bike on city streets in multiple states I learned much that will help me be a safer bicyclist. The course was also fun and I enjoyed meeting my classmates." f.d.
“Now I can bike on busy streets with confidence, and remember when the cars are honking at me, that I have the right to share the street too.This class will give you the skills, confidence and motivation to start taking those long bike trips around the NYS countryside – because you know you’ve always wanted to!” j.p.
|
The next class will be held in the September. Tentative dates are Tuesday September 9, 16 an 23. It is a three-part class. In order to accomodate additional participants, session one will also be held on Thursday September 11. Contact Lois Chaplin for registration information. When you register, you will be able to choose between the 9th and 11th for the first session. (location - on the Cornell campus)
Participants must be at least sixteen years of age, provide their own bicycles, helmets, water bottles and weather-appropirate clothing (cool weather, rain gear). The bicycle must be multigeared. All group instructional rides - one per class meeting - are tailored to the skill level of the participants and are usually just a few miles long. Only participants feeling confident to go on the road rides will be expected to participate.
The course includes a healthy mix of classroom instruction with on-the-bike practical in parking lots and on local streets. Participants are expected to attend all sessions; those who successfully complete the written and on-road exams will be awarded certificates. Cost for the course is $25 which includes a student manual and a certificate upon successful completion. Class size is limited due to the necessity of keeping the student-instructor ratio low for the on-road sessions. Preregistration is required.
Course Instructors are Susan Powell and Lois Chaplin and Andrejs Ozolins. The League of American Bicyclists' BikeEd progam, is the only nationally-recognized bicycling education program with certified instructors. Its hallmark is on-the-road training with an emphasis on learning to ride safely and effectively in all conditions of road and traffic.