New Video Shows Cyclists How to "Lead" the Dance with Traffic

Keri Caffrey of CommuteOrlando.com just posted a great video called "Bicycling in Traffic is a "Dance You Must Lead."  I suggest you take a look.  As you watch it remember the mantra of the vehicular cyclist:  "Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles."

You can link to CommuteOrlando.com here.


Bicycling in traffic is a dance you lead from Keri Caffrey on Vimeo.

We'll be discussing the principles illustrated in this video at our Bike Co-op classes  Thursday evenings in April.  That schedule is here:

	- April 1 . Principles of Traffic Law (in Colorado and in general) - 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)

Bike Co-op Offers Series of Bike Safety Classes

The Bike Co-op will offer a series of nine bike safety classes beginning February 25 and continuing through April 17. This is a buffet -come for the entire feast or just for the courses that appeal to you. There is no cost except for those who need this as a prerequisite for a League Cycling Instructor seminar.

The class will be coordinated by Rick Price and by other League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) in the community.

This class brings together forty years of Smart Cycling curriculum developed by the League of American Bicyclists for 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). ANYONE interested in becoming a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) needs to take this entire class and an exam to get the Traffic Skills 101 certificate (a prerequisite for your LCI). Otherwise just come for fun!

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.

AND please tell your friends.

Classes begin at 7 p.m. at the Bike Co-op at 331 North College Avenue.

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 (very basic: replace a tube; patch a tire; simple brake and derailleur adjustments);

March 18 – Spring Break – NO CLASS;

March 25 – Safety equipment, Bike Clothing, accessories, & on-the-bike tools for commuters, recreation and touring;

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)

Take a look at the League of American Bicyclists web site for other classes we are offering this spring.

Call Rick Price if you have question: 970-310-5238.

Why Not Bicycle to Work?

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) publishes a blog called Greenversations. On May 12, 2008 they posted the following "Question of the Week: Why are you or aren’t you biking to work?"

Within four weeks they had 799 answers to the question! 345 people wrote that they did bike to work (of course, they would read and respond to such a blog post) and 359 wrote that they didn't pedal to work.

What is interesting is the reason WHY people don't pedal. As bicycle advocates we can learn something from this.

Of course, many people live too far to pedal (or they think that they do), others have to take the kids to school or have no showers or place to change. But a good third of the folks (120) say they don't ride because it is "too dangerous."

Indeed, Bob wrote the following in this respect:

"The Safe Routes to School program is brilliant. We need a Safe Routes to Work program. And a Safe Routes to Just About Everywhere Else program. Its sad that people are detered from biking because they feel like they’re going to be run over by a car (yes, even Priuses can hurt). Understandably, there are many people that lack confidence on bikes. City riding is not easy. Suburban riding can be even worse. We need to throw money (buckets of it) into viable, SAFE routes around cities and towns. Also, its all about connections. The routes actually need to go somewhere. I’ve been on too many trails that suddenly end in a busy intersection/narrow bridge/highway on-ramp/etc. You can have a beautiful trail for 10 miles, but if for a 100 feet bikers feel endangered, most people won’t even bother."

A League of American Bicyclists Traffic Skills 101 class or Commuter Skills Class is just what those folks need. And at the risk of oversimplifying the issue (maybe that last 100 feet really is bad) then your local advocacy group should take that problem up and get it fixed (of course, bicyclists easily become pedestrians and can walk their bike, also!)

So let's get a Safe Routes to Work Commuter Skills class going in Fort Collins. We have many League Cycling Instructors in town who could teach such a class and even offer individualized instruction, accompanying commuters on their route to demonstrate exactly how to handle uncomfortable intersections.

If your business is interested in such a class for bicycle commuters contact the Fort Collins Bike Co-op today!

Iowa City Bike Library offers Beginning Bicycle Commuter Class for Women

Bike Fort Collins began a conversation about bicycling for women in November 2007. Iowa City's Bike Library is offering a commuter class directed toward women"

"Beginning Bicycle Commuter Class workshop will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Iowa City Bike Library, 408 E. College St.
This class is specifically geared toward women, yet it is open to the public.
It will focus on the basics of bike commuting, including how to get started. The goal is to demystify bicycles and help remove barriers to cycling. The class is free and limited to 15."
See the Iowa City announcement here: http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS01/804240331/1079
Read about the Iowa City bike library: http://bikelibrary.org/

A Platinum level Bicycle Friendly City would offer such things on a regular basis.
Contact www.BikeFortCollins.org if you'd like to see something like this offered in Fort Collins.