Cycling Experts Provide Valuable Support

Cyclists’ dedication was visble this past Saturday morning, October 15, 2005. Texas Bicycle Coalition hosted a Texas SuperCyclist teacher training in the Amarillo Independent School District Education Support Center.

Bicycling safety program objectives include the Seven Texas Bicycle Laws, Tuning Your Bike & Tuning Your Body, Cycling Smart for Safe & Healthy Lifestyles, Safe & Healthy Routes to School and Promoting Safe Cycling.

Hill’s Sport Shop, a local bike shop and Texas Bicycle Coalition member, provided employees Allen Harris and Ty Marshall for minor bicycle maintenance of attendees’ bikes during the program. Aid by such supporters is fundamental in the progress of a bike-friendly Amarillo.

Discussions in proper bicycle frame size and helmet fitting, and instructions on signaling were some of the topics presented before the hands-on set-up and ride of the Skills Course and the Decision Making Course. These courses are used to promote awareness of proper riding safety and skills.

Games were introduced as mechanisms to encourage kids to learn bicycle parts: the A B C D’s of pre-ride vehicle inspections and how helmets protect the brain during crashes (using a raw egg as the brain).

Reporter, Joe Chapman, gave an introduction to the program the day before in an Amarillo Globe-News article. His public education of local bicycling issues is welcomed and appreciated by the cycling community. A big “Thank You” goes out to Joe and the Globe-News from the Texas Bicycle Coalition Local Outreach Coordinators Fernando Martinez and Joyce Cunningham for this important support.