Education

Bicycle Education is a Priority
By: Ann Sarnecki and Lisa Austin, Co-Chairs of the Education Committee

One of BikeMN’s priority initiatives is to develop an education program to teach bicyclists of all ages to safely navigate streets and trails with vehicle traffic and pedestrians. BikeMN will use the League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling curriculum taught by volunteer League Cycling Instructors (LCI's).

The BikeMN Education Committee is working to schedule Smart Cycling Traffic Skills 101 classes in regional centers throughout the state. This is a comprehensive nine-hour course for adults covering all aspects of bicycling from basic maintenance, to riding skills and traffic laws. It is also the prerequisite to enrolling in the three-day League Cycling Instructor course. BikeMN hopes to recruit a few people from each class to continue on to become volunteer LCI's and help teach classes. LCI courses are scheduled for mid-July in the Twin Cities. BikeMN will help arrange home stays for people in Greater Minnesota who want to attend the course.

In early 2008, there were less than 10 LCI’s in Minnesota. Now, thanks to the Minneapolis Bike Ambassadors Program, there are more than 30. However, the focus of most of the LCI’s is Minneapolis and its surrounding communities. Bike MN’s goal is to double the number of LCI’s in 2009 and bring bicycle education to Greater Minnesota.

In addition to Traffic Skills 101, Smart Cycling has developed an advanced adult, a bike commuter and two children’s courses. BikeMN will also be working to customize the curriculum for Minnesota and to develop one-hour programs that can be presented at businesses, schools and community education programs.

Sign up for a class today. Look under the Education tab above, select the Course Schedule tab, choose your class, and register right online.