A Safe Cycling Program Grows in the Bronx

Teachers at the Bronx PS76 are aiming to have their students cycling safely this fall in the wake of a tragic death of a student last year. Physical education teachers from PS76, in Allerton, held a free Bike New York Bike Driver's Ed training recently and have ambitious plans to put the curriculum to work. They will implement a month of on-bike PE classes, a bike safety presentation for parents, a bike rally for kids to show off their safe cycling skills, and a Learn to Ride event for students who haven't yet mastered two-wheeling. At absolutely no cost to teachers or students, the school is borrowing a dozen bicycles from Bike New York's free Bike Fleet to help make it possible for all of their kids to join in the fun. We look forward to hearing more about these young riders.

Are you a PE teacher interested in bringing bicycle education to your school, like the leaders at PS76? Bike New York staff will present a Bike Driver's Ed training at the NYS AHPERD state conference on November 19 in Verona, NY. Participants will receive professional credits, a complete Bike Driver's Ed curriculum, and may be eligible to borrow Bike New York's free Bike Fleet at their school, too. Register now at nysahperd.org. Or, contact Rich Conroy (212 932 2453 x159) to set up a free training of your own in the New York City area.

Learn to Ride at NYC Parks

While schools are busy imparting reading, writing, and 'rithmetic to eager students, City of New York Parks and Recreation is leanding a hand with the fourth R: Riding! This Bike New York Learn to Ride program partner is hosting an awe-inspiring schedule of free kids' classes each weekend until November--more than a dozen throughout the five boroughs, from Bay Ridge (9/27) to Prince's Bay (10/4), the East Village (10/4) to West New Brighton (10/18). If a youngster in your life is eager to abandon his or her training wheels before the weather turns, take a look at the Learn to Ride--Kids listings; you're sure to find a class convenient to your schedule and location.

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Savvy Cyclist Classes Move to Manhattan

After a summer of successful Savvy Cyclist classes throughout the region, from Long Island City, Queens, to Hoboken, New Jersey, Bike New York's final three 2008 editions of this popular class for adults will be held on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Saturdays, October 4, 18, and November 1. In a free, one-day session, students  learn the basics of urban street cycling, including where to ride on the road, how to lock your bike, how to fit a helmet, how to fix a flat tire, and more.

Registration and Details >

Bicycle Education at the Twin Lights Ride

Are you participating in Bike New York's Twin Lights Ride this Sunday out of Highlands, New Jersey? If so, join Bicycle Education Program instructors for a quick bicycle safety inspection before you roll. League Cycling Instructors will lead bike checks every 10 minutes near the start area from 8:00 until 11:00 a.m. After you finish your ride, learn how maintain your bike (2:00 p.m.) and fix a flat tire (3:00 p.m.) at the Bike Ed tent. Or just visit us at the tent to say hello and see what else we're up to!

Volunteers, Help Us Finish Strong

Between hosting jam-packed Learn to Ride classes (one with 95 participants!) and back-to-back Summer Streets sessions for hundreds of kids and adults, Bike Ed volunteers performed miracles this summer. Volunteers, you really deserve to rest on your laurels; you do! But we still need your pedal-removing powers. Please consider joining us on Saturday, October 4, for one of two Learn to Ride classes (Kids: Tompkins Square Park, Adults: Shoelace Park, the Bronx). If October 4 doesn't work for you, please contact Emilia Crotty to sign up to volunteer at one of the many NYC Parks and Recreation Learn to Ride classes this fall.

If you need inspiration, you'll find it in volunteers like Richard Fine, who attended a Learn to Ride class with his twin granddaughters last year. Richard has since paid it forward by teaching countless others as a Bike Ed volunteer. Thanks, Richard! Read His Profile >

Visit the Bicycle Education Program pages on Bike New York's website to read answers to updated "Ask Savvy Cyclist" questions, which address topics ranging from riding in the rain to knowing when a child is ready to ride on New York City streets. Can't find the answers you're looking for? Submit a question! Other pages to check out include details of our new Bike Fleet, everything you want to know about the riding rules for BNY events, and profiles of Savvy Cyclist students.

If you happen to run a youth cycling program, either in your school, park, summer camp, local YMCA, or anywhere else, please let us know! Even if you've simply heard of a school that maybe had a program last year or the year before, clue us in so we can share information. Contact Emilia Crotty with information and you'll receive a token of gratitude from the Bicycle Education Program.

About Us 

Bike New York's Bicycle Education Program encourages smart cycling by offering free, hands-on courses to cyclists of various abilities throughout the New York metropolitan region. The Bicycle Education Program also trains and certifies Cycling Instructors and Cycling Educators to offer League of American Bicyclists educational programs in their communities and schools.

The Bicycle Education Program is always looking for volunteers, whether long-term or one-time. Contact Emilia Crotty for details, and visit BikeNewYork.org/education to learn more about the program.