Traffic Skills 101 Yuma, June 1, 2013

League-certified instructors from the Coalition will be traveling to Yuma to offer Traffic Skills 101 on June 1, 2013. Time and specific location will be announced later. Registration is now open, and the class is offered without charge — HURRY — class size is limited to 12 students.

Register instantly online

Traffic Skills 101 is our nation’s premiere street bicycling program taught by instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists. Learn the basics of bicycle and helmet fit. Learn state bicycle laws. Learn how to predict and prevent crashes, and how to bail out as a last resort! Learn how to operate your bicycle in a skillful and confident manner, in any traffic — any time!

For more info contact Kathy Mills kmills@cazbike.org.

LCI Instructor class Jan 25-27: Phoenix

There will be an LCI Instructor Class held January 25-27, 2013. This is the class to take to become a certified LCI (League Cycling Instructor). Event info and registration via LAB website.

General information about LCI and other educational programs from the LAB.

Note the TS101 is a prerequiste. For those in the Phoenix area who need the class –
I am looking at the calendar to schedule a class at Global Bikes in  Gilbert or another location.  If you are interested, which of these dates will work? Sat. Jan. 5th / Sun. Jan. 6th / Sat. Jan. 12th
There is an online portion at bikeed.org run by the City of Houston that students can start any time.

Contact Kathy Mills at kathym@cazbike.org

FREE Ready to Ride class — Tempe, Dec 8

Do you know a beginner bicyclist age 16 and up who is fearful of riding on the road? Or could use some basic bicycle safety instruction – from bicycle fit to riding in traffic?

Ready-to-Ride is a FREE class brought to you by the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists and the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG).

The free classes for ages 16 and up will last for 3 hours. The classes will be overview on the basics of bicycling and riding on streets in traffic. The last 45 minutes of the class will be on your bike in the parking lot. Helmets are required.

Can’t make it this week? Are you in another part of the valley? Check back at the ready-to-ride home page cazbike.org/r2r , for additional class to be posted soon; and sign up for our email list to be notified of future classes.


December 8, 2012 1-4pm, downtown Tempe at the Tempe Transportation Center, 200 E 5th Street.
Please note: this activity is not sponsored by the City of Tempe or the Tempe Transportation Center. 

Please visit free-ready-to-ride-classes to register.


FREE Ready-to-Ride Class: Peoria Dec 1


Registration for the December 1, 2012 9-12 AM, located at Peoria – Lakeview Room of Rio Vista Recreation Center 8866 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria is now open; (note: this class was originally scheduled for Oct 13, but was postponed).

Ready-to-Ride is a FREE class brought to you by the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists and the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG).

The free classes for ages 16 and up will last for 3 hours. The classes will be overview on the basics of bicycling and riding on streets in traffic. The last 45 minutes of the class will be on your bike in the parking lot. Helmets are required.


Please visit free-ready-to-ride-classes for more info, and to register.


Bicyclist Education Scheduled in Flagstaff: July 13-14

Martin Ince of Flagstaff will be hosting a TS101 class July 13 and 14
The location will be the Joe Montoya Community & Senior Center, 245 N Thrope Rd , Flagstaff, 86001. For more info or to register contact:

Kara Kumon (kara.kumon@gmail.com) or
Martin Ince (mince@flagstaffaz.gov, 928-213-2685)

More info from City of Flag website (includes times; THE CLASS IF FREE!)
Listing on LAB website.

This is great for cyclists in Flag and in Arizona.

Traffic Skills 101 is our nation’s premiere street bicycling program taught by instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists. Learn the basics of bicycle and helmet fit. Learn state bicycle laws. Learn how to predict and prevent crashes, and how to bail out as a last resort! Learn how to operate your bicycle in a skillful and confident manner, in any traffic — any time!

Also, there will be an LCI instructor course (to become LAB certified to instruct) September 7, 8 and 9. (completion of TS101 is a pre-requisite). Registration is through LAB.

Bike Safety Class offered in Flagstaff

Bike Safety Class

Wednesday, June 6, 2012
5:30 to 6:30 pm
Flagstaff Medical Center, McGee Auditorium
1200 North Beaver Street
Be a Savvy Cyclist! Please join us during Bike to Work Week for this interactive presentation on safe, legal, and smart cycling:
.. Learn to ride safely and legally
.. Bike with confidence in any traffic situation
.. Understand basic principles of on-street cycling
.. Discover tips and tools for bicycle commuting
This class is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 928-773-2080

Traffic Skills 101 offered in Tempe May 24 and 26

T.B.A.G. is offering TS101 at Landis Cyclery at their “north” Tempe location, in two parts: May 24 evening, and May 26 moring. Visit biketempe.org for full info and to register. The cost is $20.

Traffic Skills 101 is our nation’s premiere street bicycling program taught by instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists. Learn the basics of bicycle and helmet fit. Learn state bicycle laws. Learn how to predict and prevent crashes, and how to bail out as a last resort! Learn how to operate your bicycle in a skillful and confident manner, in any traffic — any time!

Traffic Skills 101: Dec 3 THIS SATURDAY

THIS SATURDAY!
This is our Nation’s premiere street bicycling program taught by instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists. Learn the basics of bicycle and helmet fit. Learn state bicycle laws. Learn how to predict and prevent crashes, and how to bail out as a last resort! Learn how to operate your bicycle in a skillful and confident manner, in any traffic — any time!
This class is designed to be of value to new and veteran cyclists. Class begins at 9am and finishes at 5pm. Global Bikes, 835 N. Gilbert Rd. #111 Gilbert, AZ 85234
Please visit www.meetup.com/Global-Bikes-Meetup/events/41668692/ for full information.

School is back in session: please drive carefully

Back to school safety media day: CAzB president Bob Beane was on hand along with Tempe Police Sgt. Steve Carbajal to remind motorists that school is back in session and to exercise extra care. 

For motorists:

  • Please exercise care when passing bicyclists.
  • Allow a safe passing distance (at least 3 feet, per AZ law).
  • Exercise extra care when making right and left hand turns across traffic and bike routes/lanes. 
  • Look both ways at all driveways and intersections

 For bicyclists:

  • Make sure your bike is in good working order (brakes, handlebars, etc.) 
  • Be visible. If riding after dusk and before dawn, make sure you have a front light and rear reflector that meets AZ legal requirements. We also suggest a rear red light in addition to the required reflector. 
  • Ride predictably.
  • Ride defensively (don’t assume that motorists see you).
  • Ride with traffic (same direction)…it’s safer than riding opposing traffic.
  • Wear a bicycle helmet. 

www.azfamily.com


The group Active Living Resource Center (ALRC) provides resources and tools to help you make walking and bicycling part of your community’s healthy lifestyle.
There is an excellent brief guide there “Bicycle Safety: What every parent should know“.

Share the Road – Buses and Bicycles

“At first glance, it may not seem like a bike and a bus have very much in common, but in fact, they share a lot of things… both are usually in the same space on the roadway, the right lane. And both have slower than average speeds…”, view the video presented by ChicgoBikes and the Chicago Transit Authority:


Share the Road – Buses and Bicycles from Chicago Bicycle Program on Vimeo.

If you ever experience a bus being driven in an inappropriate way, it is recommended that you do NOT confront the driver. Rather, take careful note of the 1) time 2) location, and 3) the name of the Bus Company/Authority. Then contact that Authority, and provide the info along with a brief description of the problem. They have, or should have, a keen interest in their buses being driven in as safely a manner as possible. Many buses have video recording devices, that can provide evidence of what actually occurred.

Many transit authorities are a consortium overseen by multiple municipalities, and you can contact both the municipality (e.g. the city of Phoenix) and the authority (e.g. Valley Metro) who then may tell you the bus is operated under contract by a private company. *All* parties should be informed.
In the case of a school bus, typically, the name of the school district will be painted on the side — contact that school district’s person in charge of transportation.

The same sort advice holds for any sort of commercial vehicle — don’t try to confront the driver. Just collect the information, and contact the company directly.

In extreme cases, you may need to contact law enforcement directly and immediately but keep in mind that there is very little a police officer can do about a situation that they did not witness.