Bike Education
Confident City Cycling Classes
More Arlingtonians, and Washington-area residents in general, are riding bikes now than in recent years. To promote safe and fun riding, Arlington County and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) are offering free Confident City Cycling classes to educate you on the skills you need to incorporate bicycling into your daily routine.
Three types of classes are offered, CCC1, CCC2 and L2R:
BikeArlington and WABA offer two types of CCC classes: CCC1 is a 2-hour basic skills class and CCC2 is a 4-hour vehicular cycling and avoidance maneuver class. Both types of class involve in-class and on-bike elements. In addition to these, BikeArlington and WABA also offer a 3-hour L2R class for non-riding adults who want to learn how. All classes are taught by instructors certified through the League of American Bicyclists League Cycling Instructor program.
CCC1 (2 hrs., free) covers basic bicycling information and on-bike skills such as: bicycle selection, fit, inspection, gearing, cadence, clothing, accessories, and bike handling basics like starting and stopping, riding straight, scanning, and signaling. Half of this class will be in the classroom and half will be on-bike practicing bike handling skills. You are invited to bring your bicycle to participate or if you do not bring a bike, you can watch others demonstrate bike handling skills. This class is a recommended preparation for CCC2.
Location: Arlington County Central Library Auditorium
CCC2 (4 hrs., free) covers more advanced cycling techniques such as: vehicular cycling principles, roadway positioning, lane changes, turns, and parking lot drills to learn avoidance maneuvers. Half of this class will be in the classroom and half will be on-bike practicing avoidance maneuvers and finally a supervised group ride on open streets with motorized traffic. Participants must bring their own bikes (platform pedals and street shoes recommended for the emergency stop drill), helmets, and water. Participants will be required to sign liability waivers. CCC1 is the recommended preparation for this class (all classes before 2010 count as CCC1).
Location: Arlington County Central Library Auditorium
L2R (3 hrs., $10) is the entry class to bicycling. This class is designed for adults who have never learned to ride a bicycle. We will employ a special technique for teaching balance, steering, starting, stopping and pedaling. We have an 80% success rate with our friendly and encouraging staff of trained instructors. The fee for this class is $10.
Location: Crystal City (TBD)
Class Dates and Times:
April:
CCC1 – Sunday 25th, 2-4 pm
May:
CCC2 –Sunday 2nd, 2-6 pm
CCC1 – Wednesday 5th, 6-8 pm
CCC1 – Monday 24th, 630-830 pm
June:
CCC1 – Wednesday 9th, 630-830 pm
July:
CCC2 – Saturday 17th, 10-2 pm
CCC1 – Wednesday 21st, 630-830 pm
August:
CCC1 (English/Spanish language) – Wednesday 18th, 6-8 pm
September:
CCC1 – Saturday 11th, 10-12 pm
October:
CCC1 – Wednesday 13th, 5-7 pm
CCC2 – Saturday 16th, 3-7 pm
Topics of the classes include:
- Rules of the Road: Knowing is half the battle! Did you know that you have to adhere to the same rules of the road as a car or truck does? Did you know that you have the same rights that the operator of a car or truck does? Well its true- you do! Our course offers some great tips and tricks for safely and legally using our roadways.
- Avoiding the Common Causes of Crashes: Believe it or not, most crashes are avoidable. Learn what to do if a car turns suddenly in front of you, if you have to stop suddenly, what to do to avoid the dreaded car door and much more!
- Lane Positioning: Do you ever feel like cars are passing you too closely or running you into the gutter? Learn proper lane positioning to encourage drivers to pass you at a safe distance. Also learn how to safely cross lanes of traffic in order to made turns or avoid obstacles in the road.
- Improving Pedaling Efficiency: Bicycling shouldn't be backbreaking work! The bicycle is one of the most efficient inventions of all time- make the most of it! Learn how to shift gears in anticipation of a hill, achieve a good cadence, and minimize the wear and tear on your knees.
- Useful Accessory Equipment: We all know you need a helmet, but learn some other helpful and handy equipment to make your ride more enjoyable.
- Basic Bike Maintenance and Repair: Everyone who rides a bike should know some basic repair and maintenance skills. Learn how to change a flat tire and other emergency repair tips.
Arlington County Police Department Classes for Children
The Arlington County Police Department has four district offices which can provide bicycle instruction to a group of at least 20 school-aged children when the class is initiated by a community organization such as a religious institution, civic association, service club, scout troop or youth club. Simply contact the appropriate District to arrange a time when an officer is available to conduct the class, sign up the children, and provide a safe location for the class.
League of American Bicyclists Classes
Youth and adult bicyclists may want to check out the Effective Cycling instruction offered by the League of American Bicyclists. Certified instructors teach a variety of classes for nominal fees to ages eight and up. Courses range from riding in traffic and emergency maneuvers to tour preparation and bicycle mechanics. For the name and number of an instructor near you, write to the League of American Bicyclists, 1612 K Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 22206, 202-822-1333 (TDD 711) or email education@bikeleague.org.
