Virginia

Opportunity: Become a League Cycling Instructor in Virginia!

| Sydney Sotelo

What is something that all bicyclists have in common?

Someone had to teach us how to ride. 

Whether it was a parent teaching you in a driveway, a sibling taking you to the park down the street, or a League Cycling Instructor helping you cross something off of your bucket list, someone took the time and patience to help you learn something new. 

League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) are trained by the League of American Bicyclists to teach bicycle education and safety skills and promote happier, more confident cycling within their communities. They are exemplary bicyclists who are passionate about what they do and eager to share theIr love of bicycling with others. 

Does that sound like you? Check out this FREE training opportunity (a $500 value) and start making a difference in your community. 

2020 Transportation Leadership Safety Training

WABA is partnering with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) and Alexandria BPAC to host the 2020 Transportation Leadership Safety Training. The goal of this program is to increase bicyclist and pedestrian safety, and reduce crashes throughout Northern Virginia by training Instructors who will be leaders in their communities. 

2020 Transportation Leadership Safety Training

Pedestrian Safety Training*March 18th & 25th,
7:00pm – 9:00 pm		Gain pedestrian safety knowledge and skills by completing this four-hour class over two evenings
Smart Cycling*March 7th, 2020
10:00am – 4:00 pm 		Participants will learn the importance of bike safety and traffic knowledge while performing advanced bike handling skills and hazard avoidance maneuvers. The course includes an on-street group ride, where participants will learn the ins and outs of lane positioning, defensive cycling and how to communicate with motorists. 
LCI SeminarApril 3rd, 2020
5:00pm – 9:00pm

April 4th, 2020,
8:00am – 9:00pm

April 5th, 2020
8:00am – 3:00pm 		The LCI Seminar teaches candidates comprehensive bicycle safety curriculum, including bicycle handling skills, traffic law, riding in inclement weather how to safely plan and lead group rides, group facilitation and management, etc. 

* prerequisite for LCI Seminar

Who can apply? 

This training is open to Northern Virginia local government, state, regional staff, police, faculty/teachers and residents active in their communities and committed to improving bicycle and pedestrian safety. Recreational and/or commuter bicyclists are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have experience riding in traffic, on trails and are comfortable riding in various weather conditions. 

Registration deadline – January 22nd, 2020 

Key Requirements

  1. Participants must attend all applicable training dates and complete approximately 50 hours of work, both outside and within the training activities. Training will take place in a classroom setting, outdoors and on city streets and trails. 
  2. Must have a local government or lead organization mentor that will help you identify outreach events that support bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts in the region (i.e. WABA, Alexandria BPAC, FABB, BikeArlington).
  3. The ability to ride a bicycle confidently. 
  4. Participants must commit to doing two community pedestrian and bicycling safety outreach events by September 15th and January 20th and report back to NVRC. 

Only interested in the pedestrian training or Smart Cycling? 

There are limited spaces available. If you are a safety advocate or work in training, education or local state government, please contact Debbie Spiliotopoulos at dspilio@novaregion.org. 

Are you an LCI willing to help out? Apply to be a mentor! 

Mentors assist new LCIs in completing their outreach requirements and reporting back to NVRC. 

Mentors are: 

  • Affiliated with a program or organization that supports pedestrian/bicycle  safety or outreach to vulnerable road users/bicyclists/pedestrians operating in Virginia
  • Connected with outreach efforts in high crash areas and directly work on events with needs for LCIs
  • Committed to helping LCI reach outreach requirements
  • Committed to communicating outreach efforts and outcomes to NVRC for grant reporting for 2020 and into future grant years
  • Can provide a list of potential events or activities for new candidates to work on 

Project Partners

Thank you to all the key partners in this project, including the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, the League of American Bicyclists, Alexandria Bicyclist Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), the Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB), Inova Hospital, the City of Manassas, City of Fairfax, Prince William County, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudon County and the City of Alexandria.

Registration

LCI Seminar – LCI Seminar registration

LCI Mentor – LCI Mentor sign up

The deadline for applications is 5:00pm on Wednesday, January 22nd. 

Selected candidates will be notified by Wednesday, January 29th. 

Questions? 

Project Information and Eligibility – Debbie Spiliotopoulos, NVRC – dspilio@novaregion.org 

Registration and Class Information – Sydney Sotelo, WABA – sydney.sotelo@waba.org


2020 Transportation Safety Leadership Training Program

| Sydney Sotelo

Information Registration

Information

Make a difference in your community!

The goal of this program is to increase the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians and reduce crashes throughout Northern Virginia by training instructors who will provide bicycle and pedestrian education to their communities.

Who can apply?

This training is open to Northern Virginia residents or employees.

This training is open to Northern Virginia local government, state, regional staff, police, faculty/teachers and residents active in their communities and committed to improving bicycle and pedestrian safety. Recreational and/or commuter bicyclists are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have experience riding in traffic and on trails and are comfortable riding in various weather conditions.

Training

Pedestrian Safety Training – March 18th and 25th, 2020- 7:00-9:00 pm

Prerequisite for LCI Seminar– Gain pedestrian safety knowledge and skills by completing this four-hour class over two evenings.

Location: Arlington Transportation Partners

1501 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1100, Arlington, VA, 22209

Smart Cycling- March 7th, 2020 – 10:00-4:00 pm

Prerequisite for LCI Seminar- Participants will learn the importance of bike safety and traffic knowledge while performing advanced bike handling skills and hazard avoidance maneuvers. The course includes an on-street group ride, where participants will learn the ins and outs of lane positioning, defensive cycling, and how to communicate with motorists.

Location: TBD

LCI Seminar– April 3rd-5th, 2020

The LCI Seminar teaches candidates comprehensive bicycle safety curriculum, including bicycle handling skills, traffic law, riding in inclement weather how to safely plan and lead group rides, group facilitation and management, etc. 

Dates and Times:

April 3rd- 5:00-9:00 pm 

April 4th- 8:00-9:00 pm 

April 5th- 8:00-3:00 pm 

Location: TBD

Key Requirements

  1. Participants must attend all applicable training dates and complete approximately 50 hours of work, both outside and within the training activities. Training will take place in a classroom setting, outdoors and on city streets and trails. 
  2. Must have a local government or lead organization mentor that will help you identify outreach events that support bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts in the region (i.e. WABA, Alexandria BPAC, FABB, BikeArlington).
  3. The ability to ride a bicycle confidently. 
  4. Participants must commit to doing two community pedestrian and bicycling safety outreach events by September 15th and January 20th and report back to NVRC. 

Only interested in the pedestrian training or Smart Cycling?

There are limited spaces available. If you are a safety advocate or work in training, education or local state government, please contact Debbie Spiliotopoulos at dspilio@novaregion.org.

Are you a current LCI willing to help out? Apply to be a mentor!

Mentors assist new LCIs in completing their outreach requirements and reporting back to NVRC.

Mentors are: 

  • Affiliated with a program or organization that supports pedestrian/bicycle  safety or outreach to vulnerable road users/bicyclists/pedestrians operating in Virginia
  • Connected with outreach efforts in high crash areas and directly work on events with needs for LCIs
  • Committed to helping LCI reach outreach requirements
  • Committed to communicating outreach efforts and outcomes to NVRC for grant reporting for 2020 and into future grant years
  • Can provide a list of potential events or activities for new candidates to work on 

Register

The deadline for applications in 5 pm on Wednesday, January 22nd. Selected candidates will be notified by January 29th. 

Women & Bicycles: Winter Riding Workshop with Pie!

| Carm Saimbre

As a part of WABA’s Women and Bicycles program, this event is only open to anyone who identifies as women/trans/femme. Not you? Lots of other WABA events at waba.org/fun. Know someone who should come? Please share this event with them! 

Postponed to February 1st due to inclement weather on January 18th.

Curious about how to keep riding through the winter? Currently riding outside but unsure how in the heck to keep doing it in February when it is really cold? Have some great tips learned from experience or wisdom from others? In partnership with BikeArlington, we’re gathering to talk though some options to keep riding outside safe and pleasant when its cold! We’re going for a short ride in Arlington, cover some winter riding tips and tricks for you and your bicycle, and then go find pie to celebrate!*

We are meeting at Arlington Central Library (1015 N Quincy St) and will bike to Acme Pie to celebrate!

10:00 – 10:40 am: Winter clothes and gear tips and tricks (if you have any favorites, please bring them for show and tell!)

10:40 – 11:20 am: How to maintain your bike in winter (by Evelyn Murcia, Phoenix Bikes mechanic)

11:30 am: Go to pie! 

*pie is guaranteed, we know exactly where it is 🙂

Additional Details:

We will go over some common options for warmth, technical specifications about how bodies stay warm and the various properties of fabric and design that influence warmth, with a focus on using existing stuff you might have or smart ways to find what you need.

Event Ground Rules:

  • We are going to start with laying a general overview of common options, share tips and tricks from the community (have a thought to share? Feedback survey here) and have lots of demonstration solutions.
  • If you are comfortable riding in the winter, we would love you to come. Please keep in mind that what works for you may not work for everyone, and unsolicited advice can feel unwelcoming and condescending. Please come in the spirit of solidarity and communal problem solving.

Please bring a lock for library and pie parking. Women & Bicycles will pay for one pie slice each but if you wish to purchase anything else, please bring money. Please bring water for the ride, enough layers to keep you warm and helmets are required by our insurance. (Don’t have a helmet? Email us for a loaner)

Do you have knowledge, including lived experience, that would be valuable to include in organizing or hosting this ride? Please email me at ursula.sandstrom@waba.org – I would love to have a few folks helping to host this! We’d love for folks to bring any gear that they love (any creative reuse hacks you’ve done? nifty spots for low-cost gear solutions?)

Getting there: Arlington Central Library is close to the Custis Trail. There is a fair amount of street parking for cars available though the area is a popular weekend spot!

This event takes place on Piscataway land (learn more here).

Want to take Capital Bikeshare? We are happy to reimburse your fees.

As a part of WABA’s Women and Bicycles program, this ride is only open to anyone who identifies as women/trans/femme. Not you? Lots of other WABA events at waba.org/fun. Know someone who should come? Please share this event with them!

Need accommodations, have questions about access, something the organizer should know about you (ex: severe peanut allergy) or have questions about the ride? Acme typically has a vegan pie option but not gluten-free options. Send us an email at womenandbicycles@waba.org.

Women & Bicycles is a WABA program formed to empower, educate, and encourage women/trans/femme identifying bicycle-riding persons in the DC, Virginia, and Maryland metro areas. Learn more at waba.org/women-bicycles.

Having trouble registering? Try this link.

Running Errands by Bike Community Ride with Alexandria BPAC!

| Sydney Sotelo

Register Cost Location

The holiday season is quickly approaching and festivities are upon us! Take the stress out of shopping season by learning how to run errands via bike. Join WABA and the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on this low stress, fun and informative community ride. Whether you’re picking up pumpkins, turkey or gifts for friends and family, there’s a way to carry it on a bike.

Our community education ride series is a fun, social and inclusive space for riders of varying experience and confidence. You will always have a great time on our rides, but they’re also a safe space to ask questions and practice to make this fall’s riding a breeze.

  • Ride start and end – Four Mile Run Park Plaza
  • Start time – 10:00 am
  • End time – 12:00 pm
  • Distance – About 6 miles

Great, what else should I know?

Please bring your own bike and helmet. Helmets are a requirement on all WABA rides. If you have questions, please read our ride policies here. Everyone ages 14 and up is welcome. All riders must sign a waiver. Riders under 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

What does it cost?

Ten bucks! This ride is offered thanks to the generous support of the City of Alexandria and our friends at Alexandria BPAC.

Are you a WABA or Capital Bikeshare Member? Then the class is free! We can also reimburse you for your usage fees if you use Bikeshare during the class. Email or call 202-518-0524 x221 to receive your coupon code.

Not a WABA member? For just $25 you get a ride registration ($10 value) and a one-year WABA Membership ($35 value). Learn more about the benefits of joining WABA here.

Walk-ups are free! But space is limited, so we recommend you register below ahead of time to hold your spot!

Event Location

Four Mile Run Park Plaza 

4121 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305

Register

Member Happy Hour

| Colin Browne

Come hang out, grab a beer, and talk WABA at Highline RxR in Crystal City — come say hi!

Highline RxR,
2010 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202

Sign up!