John Allens' Campaign: What, Bike-Ed at rallies?

Rallies offer the only opportunity for many League members to take a Bike-Ed course. The League used to offer a program of several Bike-Ed (then called Effective Cycling) workshops at every rally, taught by volunteer instructors. Usually, the instructors (and other workshop leaders) received a discount on the rally admission fee in return for their efforts.

There used to be many types of Effective Cycling events at rallies, for example:

A 15-minute parking-lot demonstration of bike-handling techniques. This was a good "teaser" for the course, or to motivate people to study on their own. I used to specialize in giving this demonstration.
Road and written tests, for people who had studied on their own.
Coaching sessions covering elements of the course material.
Instructor certification seminars.
Showings of the Effective Cycling video, with an instructor to lead a follow-up question and answer session.
Sale of instructional materials and promotion of the program at the rally exhibits.

Most of these formats would still be workable with today's Bike-Ed program.

To be sure, there are legitimate issues about giving tests and certification to people who have not taken a course. I think that for Road I, these issues could be handled by holding the testing to a high standard. I do not think that instructors ought to be certified without taking an instructor certification workshop, and without practice teaching. Good teaching technique requires practice that can not be conveyed only by self-study.

I volunteered to lead a workshop at this past summer's National Rally in Amherst, Massachusetts, and got no response from the League office.When questioned about this change at the Town Meeting at the 2002 National Rally, Executive Director Elissa Margolin replied that the 9-hour Road I course is too long to fit conveniently into a rally.

This response runs directly opposite the League's effort to modularize the course, and reveals a loss of historical perspective and a lack of imagination. However, the discussion at the Annual Meeting did continue, and came up with some alternatives.

One suggestion was that the complete, 9-hour Road I course might be taught on the day preceding or following the rally, so students and instructors could participate in other rally activities. This is a good idea. Let me suggest other possibilities as well:

Other modules, including instructor training sessions, could be taught on a similar schedule.
Special instructional/coaching rides could be held for trainees/students and instructors, at the same time as the rally's other rides. Covering some of the on-bike course material during these rides would reduce the time outside the usual rally schedule.
On designated rides in the regular ride program, League Cycling Instructors would be available to coach ride participants.
Instructor trainees could participate as co-instructors in sessions taught by certified instructors and instructor trainers, as practice teaching.

A rally offers an unparalleled opportunity to advance the Bike-Ed program, because it brings more League members together than any other kind of event. The opportunity ought not be passed up.

Next: Bike-Ed initiatives

Bike-Ed at rallies!