Welcome!

Hopefully you have found this page because you want to become a better cyclist. Maybe you have not bicycled in years and want to start. Maybe you are a seasoned veteran and want to refine your skills. Maybe you want to cycle to work and avoid high gas prices. Maybe you want to get into shape and lose extra pounds. Maybe you want to know your child is cycling safely. Maybe you are a senior and want the independence that cycling provides. Whatever the reason, the Smart Cycling program from the League of American Bicyclists can improve your cycling no matter what age or experience level. You will know you are cycling better, safely, and legally.

Why Cycle?

Why do people cycle. Imagine coming across a pastoral valley with no other sound than the wind rushing by. Remember the freedom you felt as a child crisscrossing your neighborhood.

• For transportation - Bicycles are one of the most efficient vehicles designed by man. Commuting to work actually saves time by combining a workout and commute. In fact, cycling to work can be faster than driving in heavy traffic. Bicycles can be vital for those who cannot or do not want to drive, providing independence.  With the increasing price of gas, cycling for transportation is making better sense than ever.
  
• For recreation - Cyclists travel the state, country, and world for adventures by bike.
• For fitness - Cycling is a low impact aerobic activity that all ages can enjoy. Cyclists can burn tremendous energy over a long ride. Cycling can be accomplished by those needing to lose weight without the wear and tear on your knees. It you do not feel traditional bicycles are comfortable, recumbents provide an alternative.
• For competition - Racing, whether professional or amateur, is exciting for cyclists and spectators alike. One ESPN fan survey ranked the Tour de France as the second toughest accomplishment in sports.
• For the freedom - Bicycles will take you place you have never been.  You will be off the beaten path and time slows down.  You will experience the sights, sounds and smells of the world that you never get in a car and may have never known.  Essentially, you get to stop and small the roses.
  
• For the camaraderie - Cycling with groups is a great way to meet people.
• For the fun of it!

One thing to remember is that cycling is SAFE!!! While there are risks to cycling, like any other activity in life, they can be mitigated with proper training. There are misperceptions about the safety of cycling that keep many people from enjoying the benefits that cycling provides.

Getting Started

Getting off to the right start in cycling begins with the bicycle. A quality bicycle from your local bike shop will provide you miles and miles of cycling pleasure. Included below is a list of shops around Huntsville and specialty shops for tandems and recumbents. Avoid big box stores for adult bicycles. Bike shops will make sure the bike fits correctly and is properly adjusted. They will also tune-up the bike after a hundred miles to keep it running in top shape. If you have an existing bike from a big box store, or one that you have not used in years, take it to your local shop for a tune-up.

• Bicycles Etc, Meridian south of Pratt, www.bicyclesetc.us
• Bicycle Works, Bailey Cove and Cecil Ashburn, www.bicycleworks.com
• Madison Cycles, Madison Blvd east of Wall Triana, www.madisoncycles.com
• Outdoor Omnibus, Pratt at Washington, 533-4131
• Trailhead Inc., Andrew Jackson north of Pratt, 534-1333
  
• Easy Chair Recumbents in Chattanooga, www.easychairbikes.com
• Tandems, Limited in Birmingham, www.tandemsltd.com

There is a bike for you!

What is Smart Cycling all about?

Smart Cycling is based on the concept of vehicular cycling.  John Forester pioneered vehicular cycling in his book Effective Cycling.  Forester showed that "cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles." The program is the only nationally recognized course for adults.  It and its predecessor, Effective Cycling, have been taught for over 30 years. In Alabama, as in all 50 states, the law defines a bicycle as a vehicle with all rights and responsibilities as any other vehicle. A cyclist drives a bicycle, never rides one.

Course Descriptions

Cycling Essentials – This initial course is perfect for all cyclists who wish to gain a full understanding of how to operate a bicycle in a variety of situations.  The class includes how to perform a pre-ride inspection, routine maintenance and adjustments, interactive discussion, on-bike skills practice and student manual.  Group riding and ways to prevent collisions with other cyclists are covered.  Crash types will be discussed.  Prevention and avoidance techniques of typical motorist mistakes are demonstrated.  Sidewalks, greenways and mixed-use trails are covered.  Bicycle types, sizing, comfort and performance are reviewed.  Students will gain confidence knowing that they are riding legally and safely. Recommended for adults and children above 14 and all experience levels.  Bikes and helmets are required. 8 hours.

Traffic Skills 201 – For more advanced students with an understanding of vehicular cycling principles, this 12-hour course includes fitness and physiology, training for longer rides, advanced mechanics, paceline skills, advanced traffic negotiation, foul weather riding and night riding.  Student manuals included with each class.  Call for prices.

Commuting – For adult cyclists who wish to explore the possibility of commuting to work or school by bike.  This 3-hour follow-up to Cycling Essentials covers topics including route selection, bicycle choice, dealing with cargo and clothing, bike parking, lighting, reflection, and foul weather riding. Included with the class are handouts and student materials.  Bikes, helmets and lights are required.

Motorist Education – A 3-hour classroom session, this course can be easily added to a driver's education curriculum, such as diversion training for reckless drivers or a course designed for local bus drivers.  Directed towards motorists in general, topics covered include roadway positioning of cyclists, traffic and hand signals, principles of right-of-way and left and right turn problems.  Materials include Share the Road literature for bicyclists and motorists as well as other fact sheets. Free.

Cycling Skills for Parents – Instructors help parents understand how to teach a child to ride a bike.  Parents learn how to perform a bicycle safety check, helmet fitting and bike sizing. Includes a 10-minute 'Kids Eye View' video and a brochure for parents.  Free, 45 minutes.

AlaBike Letter to Parents
Info for Younger Elementary School Kids
Info for Older Elementary School Kids

Kids II – This 7-hour class for 5^th and 6^th graders covers the same topics as Cycling Essentials, including on-bike skills as well as choosing safe routes for riding.  Call for prices.

Any of these courses can be tailored for a particular audience, time limit, or venue.

Next Course                 

How to Register:

The course fee is due at sign up.

Huntsville classes, make your checks out to me and send them with your registration form.  Contact me for my mailing address.

Birmingham classes should send registration to the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham,  http://www.rpcgb.org/. 

Tuscaloosa classes, make your checks out to me and send them with your registration form.  Contact me for my mailing address.

Registration forms can be downloaded here. Spaces are limited so do not delay. Registration deadline is one week before the class.

Course Location

My courses in Huntsville are taught at Safety City, 2221 Drake Ave. Safety City is on Drake, west of Memorial Parkway, at the intersection of Ivy next to the Brahan Springs Natatorium.

Courses in Birmingham are taught at the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, The Historic Young & Vann Building, 1731 1st Avenue North - Suite 200.  The office is between 17th & 18th Streets east of I-65 in the heart of downtown Birmingham.

Courses in Tuscaloosa have been taught at the University Church of Christ, 1299 Julia Tutwiler Drive.  For directions, log onto the church's website:  http://www.universitycofc.org/

I will travel to your location if you have interest in a course. Contact me to discuss the details. Here are pre-made fliers you can use to advertise a course in your location.

Other Local LCI's

Comments from previous courses

"I drive better after taking Road 1." – Jody, May 2005

Pictures of Classes

Bio

I started cycling in mid-2000 to commute to work.  I quickly fell in love with the sport.  I was the community affairs advisor for the Spring City Cycling Club in 2001 and 2002.  I am a founding member of the Alabama Bicycle Coalition (AlaBike) in 2003.  I also sit on the Huntsville Bicycle Advisory and Safety Committee (HBASC) since 2008.  In July 2003 I was also in a head-on collision with a distracted, uninsured driver who was on the wrong side of the road.  The collision was unavoidable and was not due to the bike.  I would have been involved if I was in a car. It is also extremely rare.  However, going through the ER, OR, and ICU in the hospital provided me the experience to know why you do not want to be there, especially if it is preventable like most crashes are.  I was certified as a League Cycling Instructor in 2004 in Baton Rouge Louisiana and taught my first Road 1 course in May 2005.  I also am a cycling merit badge councilor for the Boy Scouts.

Dave's Cycling Pictures

Bikes in the Local Media

Articles in the Newspaper

Link to 7/19/05 article in the Huntsville Times
Link to 7/19/05 article, page 2 in the Huntsville Times
Link to 9/21/08 article in the Huntsville Times
Link to Redstone Rocket article 8/25/05
Link to Redstone Rocket article 7/16/08
Link to Knowledge, the Army Safety Magazine, article May 2009
Letters to the Editor in the Huntsville Times
WHNT Interview - I gave this interview on the rules of the road after a friend was killed in a crash with a motor vehicle.

For The Media

            Media Guide

            Don't Let This Headline Scare You

            Top 10 Things Wrong With Crash Reports

Educational Materials

Legal Matters

Police Reporting Guidelines - Developed with the Huntsville Police Department and the Huntsville Bicycle Advisory and Safety Committee, it provides guidelines on when, how, and who to call to report cycling incidents with motorists.

How to File Charges with the Local Magistrate - If you are involved in a crash or incident with a motorist who violated the laws, this is how to file charges against them with the local magistrate if the police have not already done so.

Need a Bicycle Attorney?  Danny Feldman specializes in legal representation of cyclists in Alabama

Why are Motorists Not Charged With a Crime - While I am not an attorney, based on my research on the topic I wrote the following paper for the HBASC as a primer for future discussions with our district attorney on why simple negligence is not criminal.  The public was asking why criminal charges are not filed against motorists in collisions that kill cyclists.

For LCI's

Modifications for Recumbent Trikes - Modifications to the curriculum to address different considerations for recumbent tricycles.

For Police

Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition police training materials - MassBike developed these materials under a NHTSA grant with numerous police departments around the country to train police on bicycles and the law, enforcing bicycle laws, and investigating bicycle crashes.

Suggested Reading

Other useful links

Updated
7/10/10