The Fort Collins Bike Co-op is sponsoring a League Cycling Instructor seminar at the Bike Co-op in Fort Collins May 4 – 6, 2012. The coach for the seminar is nationally recognized League Cycling Instructor, Preston Tyree.

League Cycling Instructors are certified by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) to teach bicycle safety.

According to LAB:

“Becoming a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) certified to teach Smart Cycling is a great way to help cyclists in your community. Certified instructors can teach Smart Cycling 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. Becoming a League member and taking Traffic Skills 101 are prerequisites for a certification seminar. Instructors are trained at seminars held periodically throughout the year.”

To register for the Fort Collins seminar visit the web site of the LAB: http://members.bikeleague.org/members_online/members/calendar_of_events.asp

We are lucky to have Preston Tyree coach this seminar. Preston was the Education Director at the League of American Bicyclists from 2007 through 2011. Before that he was Education Director at Bike Texas from 1997 through 2003 where he implemented the Texas SuperCyclist Project and trained 3,000 teachers to teach bicycle traffic safety in schools.

If you are an experienced cyclist and would like to teach others how to bicycle safely please join us. By becoming a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) you can help Fort Collins become a safer bicycle community and you can help us move toward the Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly Community award.

Space for this seminar is limited to 15.  The Bike Co-op has 8 scholarships available to cover the $200 registration fee for this seminar for local residents who will commit to helping build our safe cycling program in Fort Collins.  Participants must pay the $200 fee and the $35 LAB membership fee themselves.  The $200 registration fee will be reimbursed after the new LCIs assist with at least two Smart Cyclng classes.

For further information contact Rick Price (970-310-5238). Or check the Education Programs on the Bike Co-op web site: http://fcbikecoop.org/programs/education/index.php.

For information about the LCI program at the national level visit: http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/

In 2007 the San Francisco Police Department collaborated with the SF Bicycle Coalition to produce a training video for police.  Trainings such as this help police officers become more aware of bicycle laws and practices so that the police on the street can be more effective both at enforcing the law and at education motorists and cyclists on the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists on the road.  Pueblo and Longmont have both undertaken to train their police.  Will Fort Collins be next?

Classes begin at 7 p.m. at the Bike Co-op at 331 North College Avenue and run an hour and a half.

This class brings forty years of Smart Cycling curriculum developed by the League of American Bicyclists to both novice and experienced riders.  There is something for everyone here.

You may attend only the classes that interest you although, if you wish to receive a certificate for completing the class you must attend all sessions and take an exam.

There is no charge for the class unless you wish to receive the certificate.  In that case the fee is $60 ($30 for students and educators).

Description: This is a “sampler” class for those curious about Smart Cycling classes taught at the Co-op. The first 8 classes are 1 hour and 15 minutes each on Thursday nights at the Fort Collins Bike Co-op. There will be no class during Spring Break (March 18) The last class is a three hour on-road class Saturday, April 17th.

Call to let us know you are coming and then just show up!

Feb. 25 – Vehicular Cycling Philosophy and Practice (What this class can do for youth, adults, beginning cyclists, educators, commuters, and motorists);

March 4 – Picking a bike : what kind of bike should I buy ?

March 11 – Bike Maintenance Basics;

March 18 – Spring Break – NO CLASS;

March 25 – Safety equipment, Bike Clothing, accessories, & on-the-bike tools;

April 1 – Principles of Traffic Law (in general and in Colorado);

April 8 – How crashes happen and how to avoid them;

April 15 – Riding basics (classroom); April 17 (Saturday) Bike Handling basics – Parking lot drills (1.5 hours) On-the-road practice (1.5 hours)

To register for this course, contact:

Rick Price
Phone: 970-310-5238
Contact Email: Click For Email

Anyone is welcome to just drop in last minute as well.

Equipment required: A bicycle only on April 17.