Hawaii Bicycling League produces a perfect bicycle PSA for New Jersey

If you ride even a little bit on New Jersey's roads, it doesn't take long to realize that New Jersey drivers need a major education regarding the rights bicyclists' have to use the roadway.  They also need a good lesson or two on the safe and proper way to pass bicyclist riding in the road.  After seeing a motorcycle safety PSA play repeatedly all last summer on News 12 New Jersey, it dawned on me that a PSA focused on bicycling safety would be the perfect means to reach and educate the general public.

Fortunately, the Hawaii Bicycling League has already produced a close to perfect 30 second PSA that teaches exactly what New Jersey drivers also need to learn.  Take a look above.  All we would have to do is take out the "Aloha" greeting with the much more typically New Jersey "How ya' doin'?" and have cyclist ride past some iconic New Jersey landmarks and I think we would have a winner!

Maybe we could even get Prudential Insurance, headquartered in Newark, to underwrite the production.  SERIOUSLY!

Mahalo to Chad Taniguchi, Executive Director Hawaii Bicycling League for personally sharing the link to their most excellent PSA.

Space still available in "Bike Driver's Ed" workshop

The below is forwarded here on WalkBikeJersey from Rich Conroy at Bike New York.  It is my understanding that those wishing to take this workshop do not need to be LCI's but will likely need to be teachers.  Interested persons should ask Rich directly.

Bike New York will be offering their Bike Driver's Ed training workshop at the upcoming NJAHPERD conference in Long Branch, NJ on February 16th.  The Bike Driver's Ed training equips Educators to implement a multi-session bicycle skills program for elementary, pre-teen, and teen cyclists, such as for use in PE classes, after-school programs, or summer camps. Educators will be prepared to teach students how to drive their bicycles as vehicles on the road. Participants gain an understanding of vehicular traffic rules and cyclists' responsibilities, proper bike and helmet fit, use of gears and brakes, essential bike handling skills, and basic repair and maintenance.

There is still some space available for this training.  If you or anyone you know may be interested, please call or email Rich Conroy

Rich Conroy

Bicycle Education Program Director

Bike New York

www.bikenewyork.org

rconroy@bikenewyork.org

212-932-2453 x159

LAB Certified Bike Ed Classes being taught in Cherry Hill

The below classes are being taught be retired police officer Frank Plunkett, (LCI# 1794) who I had the pleasure of working with last year on the NJBIKESChOOL pilot program. Spots are still available for both classes.

Traffic Skills 101

Date: April 28, May 5, and May 8
Instructor: Frank Plunkett
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Fee: $50.00

Description: Gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. Recommended for adults and children above age fourteen, this fast-paced, nine-hour course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling. This course includes four hours of classroom instruction and five hours of hands on and on bike instruction including a road ride of under five miles in the Cherry Hill area. Classroom portion will take place on two consecutive Wednesday evenings. Outdoor portion will take place on Saturday, weather permitting. Instructors are certified by the League of American Bicyclists, www.bikeleague.org. Equipment Required: Bicycle in good working condition, properly fitted helmet, pad, pen , or pencil.

To register for this course, contact:

Cherry Hill Department of Recreation
Phone: 856-665-6500

Signup required in advance? Yes
Special signup instructions: Questions about the course should be directed to the instructor, Frank Plunkett, LCI #1794 at lci1794@gmail.com

Equipment required: Bicycle, helmet, pad, pen or pencil.

Kids and Bikes 101

Date: April 7, 14 & 21, 2010 1 hour 6-7 pm each day.
Instructor: Frank Plunkett
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Fee: $20.00

Description: This course is designed for parents of young children. The course provides information on safe riding skills and the most common causes of children's bicycling accidents. This course will also teach parents to perform a bicycle safety check, helmet fitting, and bike sizing. This course is a classroom presentation with hands on activities for Kids and parents during the third one hour session. There are three one hour sessions over three weeks. Instructors are certified by the League of American Bicyclists, www.bikeleague.org. Equipment required: Pad, pen or pencil, Kids, bicycles and helmets. Note: Children may attend all sessions however it is recommended that they not attend the first session as this will be a classroom session geared to adults/parents.

To register for this course, contact:

Cherry Hill Department of Recreation
Phone: 856-665-6500

Signup required in advance? Yes
Special signup instructions: Contact Cherry Hill Department of Recreation Questions about the course should be directed to the instructor, Frank Plunkett, LCI #1794 at fplunk@comcast.net.

Equipment required: Pad, pen or pencil, helmets and bicycles for kids.

WANTED! - LCI Candidates

This message comes from Jim Nicholson, President of the NJ Bicycle Coalition and one of the finest League Cycling Instructors in America. - Andy B.

Dear fellow New Jersey bicyclists,

We are putting together a New Jersey LCI seminar, tentatively planned for April of this year. Our time-line is tight and complicated by an ongoing search for an appropriate venue, although we think that should be resolved shortly. At the same time we are doing this, we need to identify potential LCI candidates. I'm sure you can understand the difficulty in asking someone if they would like to attend a 2.5 day seminar when we can't give them an exact date and location!

Would you or do you know of anyone who would like the opportunity to train and become a League Cycling Instructor? If so, please contact me at jimnichlci@njbike.org. You can also forward names and contact details to me and I will do the calling.

Remember that all potential candidates have to be LAB members, pay a fee for the training, and need to have completed the Traffic Skills 101 prerequisite at least 30 days before the actual seminar. For those who may not have the TS101 course under their belts, we will do all that we can to schedule a class so this can take place. You see, we really do want to fill this seminar...

While I am an LCI, and will, in most probability, be teaching much of this seminar, I am also the president of the New Jersey Bicycle Coalition, a cycling advocacy organization. One of our goals for 2010 is for New Jersey to have at least one LCI in each of its 21 counties, each teaching at least 3 courses per year. While there are many LCIs already teaching and exceeding this number, could you imagine the effect, statewide, if this were to become reality? Whether these new LCIs teach on their own, or perhaps for some of your own organizations, the outcome is the same. Many cyclists in New Jersey will get the benefit of the same training that you got, and become safer, more efficient, and happier cyclists.

So, in closing, thanks for reading this and if you do know of a suitable candidate, let's see if we can get her or him enrolled in this seminar.

Best regards for the new year,

Jim Nicholson
LCI 1625

President, NJ Bicycle Coalition

Videos: Asbury Park Bike Church & More!

I had the good fortune of coming across several good videos today that readers of our blog and all New Jersey bicyclists should see.

The first is a wonderful, *NEW*, 5 minute short about Kerri Martin (WalkBikeJersey's official president BTW) and her Bike Church down in Asbury Park. The new video from Brian Johnson, released earlier this month really gives you an idea of the transformation effect the bicycle and Kerri's efforts at the Bike Church have had on children growing up in an urban environment where kids often face many problems.

The Bike Church from Brian Johnston on Vimeo.

Also is this 2007 production about Kerri and the Bike Church that is pretty much in the same vein as the newer video and is also just around 5 minutes.



Final there is this superb vintage bicycle education video out of the Oakland, California by Progressive Pictures (I kid you not!). It is supposedly from to 1948 but many (comments on YouTube) think its newer, from the 1950's and I tend to agree (look at the cars). I think it's very well done and almost all of the information and lessons given are excellent and still apply today. However, most of the lessons given in the "riding at night" section have been outmoded by advances in technology. There are also some great stunt crashes, some done by children that all managed to walk away with a smile, despite the lack of a helmet! It's geared toward kids but there are adults in the film and the lessons are given in a way that appeals to audiences of all ages.



Anyway I notice a couple of other interesting things that may be of interest to us "livable streets" types. First, did you notice the 15mph speed limit. It is my understanding that they are still considered illegal in most places including New Jersey (DON'T quote me on that). Second are parking space markings on the roadway that are nearly identical to the ones used in the Bay Area today. They are crosses that have a branch that extends out into the traffic lane. These are still in use out in California because (or so I believe) the branch that extends out into the street acts as a guide to cyclists to stay out of the door zone, like that shown below on this street in San Francisco. Oh well. Everything comes around a second time I guess and hopefully for the better.