Full course description
Course Summary
Adapted from The League of American Bicyclists’ Smart Cycling Program, this comprehensive online course is designed for both bicyclists and e-scooter riders. It offers a blend of informative readings, engaging videos, and practical diagrams to address the unique challenges of navigating urban environments, understanding traffic laws, and maintaining visibility. The course emphasizes the shared safety concerns of both modes of transportation, focusing on how to interact safely with motor vehicles, pedestrians, and other road users. This course mirrors the principles taught in a traditional driving school, tailored for the needs of bicyclists and e-scooter riders. It is structured for self-paced learning, allowing you to engage with the material through various modules that include readings, videos, and quizzes. Whether you are rediscovering bicycling, preparing for a charity ride, exploring e-scooters, or are an experienced rider, this course provides the crucial knowledge to navigate traffic confidently and safely.
Learning Outcomes
After completing the modules, you will be able to:
- Apply essential safety practices for biking and e-scootering, including proper helmet fitting, pre-ride checks, secure parking, legal lighting requirements, weather appropriate attire, and routine maintenance for optimal performance and safety.
- Identify and adhere to traffic principles, rules of the road, and appropriate lane positioning for safe and legal riding.
- Recognize the impact of your actions in traffic, and how you can bring the positive interactions.
- Learn common causes of crashes, strategies for avoiding them, and techniques for navigating around various road hazards.
- Apply defensive riding techniques, including anticipation and awareness, and effectively use different bike facilities for safer travel.
Modules Include
- Module 1: Bike Preparation and Maintenance
- Bike Selection and Setup: Choose the right bike for your needs and fit a helmet correctly. Learn to perform a pre-ride safety check (tires, brakes, chain) and basic maintenance tasks using fix-it stations.
- Security and Visibility: Use appropriate locks to secure your bike and equip it with front and rear lights for visibility
- Riding Gear: Dress appropriately for different weather conditions to ensure comfort and safety.
- Module 2: Traffic Laws and Safe Riding
- Traffic Principles: Understand core traffic laws, including right of way and lane positioning. Learn specific road safety rules for signaling, positioning, and handling different road conditions.
- Safe Riding Practices: Develop safe and defensive riding habits, anticipate the actions of other road users, and increase your visibilty and predictability.
- Module 3: Safety Principles and Hazard Avoidance
- Five Layers of Security: Learn about the five layers of safety, including the role and limitations of helmets.
- Bike Control and Hazard Management: Practice key control techniques and follow traffic rules. Recognize and react to common hazards, and apply strategies to avoid or maneuver around them to reduce crash risk.