There is nothing more soothing than a bike ride in late spring, as you take in the fresh air and lovely weather. But like any city, our streets can be treacherous for local bicyclists. While car drivers should always respect cyclists and avoid hitting them, in some instances, riding defensively can protect you from suffering a serious or fatal injury.
Benefits of a Bike Safety Course
Most of us learned how to ride a bike from our parents, but anyone, newbie or pro, can benefit from taking a bike safety course.
In classes geared toward a younger clientele, children can get hands-on instructions from trained specialists, who will not only teach them how to keep upright, but also the local laws, safety techniques, and hand signals. A bike class is also a great way to connect with other parents and help your child make new friends.
When selecting a class for your child, you should look for one that teaches:
How to safely stop and start
How to wear a helmet and adjust the chin straps
How to ride with friends
How to safely ride in a bike lane
Local bike laws
Hand signals
For adults, bike safety courses are a great way to brush up on biking skills while also learning:
About bike routes
New safety techniques
How to fix a bike
How to select a helmet
How to ride in a group
How to ride during rush hour
How to ride during a marathon
What type of clothing you should wear while riding
Where to Take a Class
Bike safety classes have been largely postponed throughout 2020 and early 2021 due to the pandemic, but they will likely return as people get vaccinated and life goes back to normal. In the meantime, you should keep an eye on these local organizations that offer training classes for a variety of ages:
Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club (PMBC): PMBC is one of the largest bike clubs in Phoenix and one of the few to offer the League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling Course, which teaches riders 16 or older in-depth lessons on bike safety.
The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists: The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is a Phoenix-based advocacy group that fights to keep bicyclists safe. The Coalition also runs the Arizona Bike Summit and provides safety courses throughout the year.
Mesa’s Bike & Pedestrian Program: The City of Mesa conducts public bike events, including both child and adult classes.
If you are looking to learn some new skills on your own or starting to teach your kid how to ride, you should also consider reviewing the following bike safety guides and self-paced classes:
Fighting for Injured Bikers
The Husband & Wife Law Team believes in advocating for public safety and helping our neighbors prevent serious accidents, but when they do occur, we do not hesitate to fight for our clients. If you were injured by a negligent driver, reach out to our bike accident lawyers. We can walk you through your rights in a free consultation. Then, we’ll advocate for full compensation through a personal injury claim. Contact us to learn how we can help you after a bike accident.