John Allens' Campaign: fix the Bike-Ed program

This page was first posted as part of my 2003 campaign for New York-New England Regional Director of the League of American Bicyclists. I am keeping the campaign pages online, with brief additional comments (here, inside the box), for the information of League members..

The management of the Bike-Ed program was the main concern that led me to run for office, and one of my main campaign issues.

I am pleased to note that significant improvements occurred in the Bike-Ed program, even before the new Directors take office in October, 2003. In particular, the hiring of a new Education Director, Sami Founier, and assistant, Fred Meredith, bode well for the program. An online database of League Cycling Instructors has been created -- a useful resource. I like to think that my campaign and those of Fred Oswald and Amanda Jones, also League Cycling Instructors, played a part in this improvement.

There are still major improvements to be made in the program, and I pledge to work hard for them during my tenure as a Director.

I have a major personal investment in the Bike-Ed program. I have been a certified instructor for 20 years, and I have devoted a major part of my professional career to bicycling education.

At this time, I am concerned about the status of the League's Bike-Ed program and of support for League Cycling Instructors.

What am I concerned about?

I see problems in four areas:

problems in the course materials which the League offers;
weaknesses in the process for certifying new instructors,
lack of Bike-Ed workshops at League rallies
too little imagination in promoting the program.

League Cycling Instructor John Schubert, a Regional Director (through mid-2001) who was on the Education Committee, has outlined some of the management issues which have led to problems with the Bike-Ed program. To summarize his statements:

The Education Committee has not maintained sufficient control over the office staff's management of the program. The Education Committee has been reduced from a hands-on to an advisory capacity.
Instructor seminar leaders are now chosen by office staff only, with no input from experienced instructors. Quality of instructor seminars has led to many complaints.
Development of the Bike-Ed program was funded by a $100,000 Federal grant, yet the 2002 revision of the Bike-Ed Instructor's Manual is of very poor quality. Available volunteer and professional assistance was not brought in for this vitally important project.
Members of the Education Committee who expressed concerns about these issues have been removed from the committee (John Schubert, 2001; Bill Hoffman, 2002).

I support modularizing the program

A common criticism of long-time instructors is that we oppose progress in making the program easier to promote and to teach. Let me then make it very clear that I support such efforts.

In fact, already in the early 1980s, I was modularizing my own classes and shortening courses by leaving out material that could be learned elsewhere -- well before the League adopted the same approach.

I am pleased with the modularization of the program, and with the increasing number of instructors in recent years -- but I am concerned with the quality of training and support.

In my opinion, the most important Bike-Ed course material covers bicycle handling and operation in traffic. This material is unique, and uniquely valuable. Over the years, I have taught it in a number of formats:

a 15-minute parking lot/intersection demonstration at rallies and conferences, showing efficient pedaling techniques, use of the gears, scanning and merging in traffic, and emergency maneuvers;
Classroom lectures describing road cycling technique, in a variety of formats;
road tests and written tests at rallies;
The Bike-Ed Road I course, with two sessions of approximately 5 hours;
a 20-hour course on 5 Saturdays, sometimes with the option of an overnight tour on the final weekend;

Numerous publications, including two books and dozens of magazine articles. My pamphlet Bicycling Street Smarts has sold over 300,000 copies in 5 editions, including the bicycle driver's manuals of two states.

Though I have taught in this wide variety of formats, I have never taught the original 30-hour course using John Forester's Effective Cycling as the textbook, and so I reject any suggestion that I am inflexible!

How will I work to fix the program?

As a long-time League Cycling Instructor and author of instructional materials, I will push to be appointed as a member of the Education Committee. I will raise issues of the quality of the Bike-Ed program at every opportunity. My election will send a message to the League Staff and the Board that they must take these issues seriously. Along with other Board members who are concerned about the Bike-Ed program, I will play my part in turning the situation around.

I am determined to resolve the problems. I will work for the support which LCIs and the Bike-Ed program deserve from the League, and for a Bike-Ed program deserving of members' and taxpayers' investment.

Next: the Bike-Ed Manual

My platform on the Bike-Ed program

What am I concerned about?

I support modularizing the program

How will I work to fix the program?