Starting in January, the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) began offering a regular adult bike safety class called Street Skills. The class is a free 45-minute, off-bike session to help teenage and adult riders of all skill levels understand safety tips, techniques, rules of the road, and gain confidence when riding in mixed traffic.
The MPO finished their fourth class of the year on March 11, and classes on March 18 and March 26 are completely booked. Since February, we’ve had a waitlist established because of overwhelming interest in taking the class. The MPO will offer classes twice a month starting in April to the end of August.
During each class, approximately 20 interested potential and current bicyclists get answers to their questions, ranging from which traffic laws bicyclists have to follow – generally, the same as motor vehicle drivers – to clarifying who has the right of way on the street in various situations. At the end of the session, every participant receives a free bike helmet, bike lights, a copy of the latest edition of the San Antonio Bike Map, and a reflective ankle or arm band to wear when biking or jogging.
The MPO has seen residents from all over San Antonio make the journey downtown to attend one of the evening Street Skills classes. Class members have ranged from novice riders who want to make cycling part of their exercise routines, families looking to ride together to enjoy the community, experienced cyclists who want a refresher course on safety, and people who simply want to become more comfortable riding in mixed traffic.
With questions encouraged throughout the class, and even after, participants are able to learn about new approaches on increasing bicyclist safety around the region, educate themselves on how to be safe when riding, and help serve as ambassadors for good cycling behavior.
For more information on the Street Skills class, or the work of the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, please contact Leroy Alloway or Allison Blazosky at 210-227-8651 or via email at AAMPO@AlamoAreaMPO.org.
*Featured/top image: Allison Blazosky explains the rules of the road to Street Skills attendees. Photo by Leroy Alloway.
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