Sonoma classes teach bicycle safety

One in June, the other in July|

A free one-day bicycle training event featuring Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition’s Smart Bicycling Street Skills 101 A class will be held Saturday, June 4.

The class, which is sponsored by the City of Sonoma, will be held at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St. in Sonoma.

The class will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A bicycle is not required, but you are welcome to ride to the event.

Participants should bring helmets for proper fitting techniques.

On Saturday, June 18, the City of Sonoma will sponsor a free one-day bicycle training event featuring Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition’s Smart Bicycling Street Skills 101 B class. The class will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes both hazard avoidance drills and a street ride where students will have extensive practice riding safely and confidently with traffic. Bicycles and helmets are required. Street Skills 101 A or some experience bicycling is recommended before taking 101 B.

Smart Cycling Street Skills is based on the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Road I Bicycle Education curriculum. The nationally certified instructors are walking bicycle encyclopedias and can answer any questions participants may have. Participants will ride away having benefited regardless of prior levels of experience.

Both expert and novice bicyclists will benefit from the classes.

“Street Skills is for everyone,” says Bicycle Coalition Education Director Tina Panza.

“Whether you are new to riding and are curious about the most efficient gear ratio for riding uphill, or an expert rider who could use guidance on the best lane positioning when turning left at a busy intersection, the class has valuable information for you,” she said. “I’ve been a bike commuter for years, and I thought, ‘I’m not going to learn anything new here’ - I’m happy to say I was wrong. I’m a safer bike rider now, and I enjoy riding even more than before.”

City of Sonoma is offering this class free to attendees.

Space is limited. Contact Wendy Atkins at 933-2204 or watkins@sonomacity.org for reservations.

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