How a Bike Safety Course May Save Your Life

By The Husband and Wife Law Team on April 15, 2021

Here in Phoenix, 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 Phoenix’s 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:

• Phoenix Metro’s Bike Maps
• NHTSA’s Kids and Bike Safety Tips
• Arizona State University Online Bike Safety Course
• The City of Phoenix’s Bike Safety Tips

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 Phoenix 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. Call us at (602) 457-6222 to learn how we can help you after a bike accident.