League of American Bicyclists

[Mark_Hoagy]

I've got my year end request for a donation to bikeleague.org which says
---

"Thousands of everyday cyclists learn how to ride more safely through
our Smart Cycling program. If we get enough additional dollars from
supporter like you, we will expand the program and certify an additional
400 instructors. That would mean thousands fewer bicycling accidents,
injuries, and deaths."

Do you think the pros & cons of a $5 donation per month is worth wild?

Cyclist deaths for were less then 700 and injuries 48,000 or so which
looks much, much better then USA motor vehicles crashes.

[. dkoloko]

On Thu, Dec 13, 2012 at 11:26 PM, Mark_Hoagy <ho...@nelson-tel.net> wrote:

I've got my year end request for a donation to bikeleague.org which says ---

"Thousands of everyday cyclists learn how to ride more safely through our Smart Cycling program. If we get enough additional dollars from supporter like you, we will expand the program and certify an additional 400 instructors. That would mean thousands fewer bicycling accidents, injuries, and deaths."

Do you think the pros & cons of a $5 donation per month is worth wild?

_________________________________________
Does one pay to be tested and certified as an instructor? Do the certifited instructors charge for teaching the course? Does the League spend more than they charge to certiify instructors?

Demetri

[Kim Alan Waggoner (Home)]

There is a fee.  Locally, the University of Central Oklahoma covered the fees to train instructors here in Edmond a couple years ago.

Demetri
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[Bryan Lorber]

This single BEST thing I have EVER done when it comes to bicycling was to take the LAB course "Traffic Skills 101". It was "free" (cost covered by local club) and the information learned not only made me a better rider, it has saved my life many times over. Instructors are certified, pass a test, etc..The LAB is a fabulous organization on every level. They are our voice in Washington, DC and around the nation. How much do I support their mission? Last year I became a Life Member and this year gave additional donations as I plan to every year going forward. Your thought to make a monthly donation is generous and appreciated. BTW, I have reviewed their PF990 (Tax return that all non-profits have to file) and was impressed with their financials. 

Bryan

Barrington, RI

[Andrejs]

On 12/13/12 11:59 PM, . dkoloko wrote:
> Does one pay to be tested and certified as an instructor?
> Do the certifited instructors charge for teaching the course?
> Does the League spend more than they charge to certiify instructors?

There are periodic courses to train the instructors. To take the course,
you have to have gone through the traffic safety course beforehand. So,
if you don't luck out on subsidized sessions, you'll have paid for two
courses by the time you get your certification -- to become an LCI,
League Certified Instructor. Then, you get to pay LAB yearly to maintain
your instructor status. I think it's about $40/year.

There pretty much has to be some charge for the courses because there
are expenses -- in addition to the training costs and yearly dues of
instructors, there are some costs for instructional materials as well.
Our local courses were under the umbrella of the university and cost
something like $20 per student. The student-instructor ratio was kept at
no more than 4:1 with at least some of the instructors being local
volunteers (with LCI certification). The course ran a minimum of 6
hours, which was done on two week-days after work hours.

Does LAB spend more than they get? I don't think it's a revenue stream
for them. The LCI training sessions are pretty few and far between. You
have to assemble several qualified instructors for a couple days at
least. It's enough of a hassle that it doesn't happen very often unless
you're in a really big population center. Often it's a big project of a
local advocacy organization that plans such an event for a long time,
raising funds for travel and lodging for instructors and recruiting
enough qualified students to make it work.

From my experience -- both taking the course and responses from others
taking the course -- I wish everybody with a bike could be passed
through TS-101. People come out of it with a sense of belonging in
traffic to a degree they didn't believe possible. It's not magic; it
just gently puts people in the situation to experience it for themselves
(all the courses involve riding on real streets with real traffic). And,
it also works on some riding skills that most people never consciously
practiced, making them aware of their abilities and limits. So,
contributing to LAB is a good idea to the extent that it promotes
teaching these courses and spreading that kind of bike riding. In
addition, LAB mounts lobbying efforts in DC to promote cycling interests
-- nobody else does that. I went to their big lobbying gathering last
spring and visited some Senate and House offices; it's a great
experience and I'm pretty sure it makes some difference. I'm a
life-member of LAB.

Andrejs
Ithaca, NY

[Jon Meinecke]

On Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 9:19 AM, Andrejs <and...@ozolins.com> wrote:
> There pretty much has to be some charge for the courses because there are

> expenses. [..]

>
> Does LAB spend more than they get? I don't think it's a revenue stream for

> them. [..]

>
> all the courses involve riding on real streets

Some portion of the charge for courses is likely for liability
insurance. Informed consent and liability waivers notwithstanding LAB
instructors and the organization need some protection.

Perhaps someone with knowledge of a largish bike club could comment,
but I would guess that *any* organized ride is a potential liability
risk for ride leaders and the organization.

Jon

[Chuck Davis]

Large clubs with a race team component can get coverage through their USAC/USCF membership for non competitive events/club rides that don't requires licenced riders

 

Hoops/and paper work but what else is new?

 

A local shop with a Jr Team used to require LAB "Road 101" for its racers/riders

On Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 12:37 PM, Jon Meinecke <pedal...@gmail.com> wrote:

Some portion of the charge for courses is likely for liability
insurance.  Informed consent and liability waivers notwithstanding LAB
instructors and the organization need some protection.

Perhaps someone with knowledge of a largish bike club could comment,
but I would guess that *any* organized ride is a potential liability
risk for ride leaders and the organization.

--

Chuck Davis

 

The shoppe is at:

 

OK Velo Sales (Okv...@gmail.com)

1408 E 11th ST

Tulsa, OK 74120

 

918-587-0574 Shoppe TP/FX)

 

Davis...@gmail.com for the serious stuff

 

 

918-895-0733 (Magic Jack 2nd Message TPN)

 

 

 

 

 

[. dkoloko]

The question Mark asked was whether donating to the League was worthwhile to support their Smart Cycling program and train its instuctors. This as I expected expanded to whether the course is worthwhile to take, whether League is good and deserves support, etc. Sponsorship for taking the course has been mentioned. This was brought up by my bicycling club. Should scholarships be given to train League cycling instructors, when these instructors when certified will charge the students they teach? Question is expanded to the League. Does the League need money to test cycling instructors, when it charges to take the test? It seems the program is self supporting at both the national and local level.

Demetri
Liife Member, LAB

[Bryan Lorber]

If you email Andy Clarke (LAB President), I'm sure your questions can be answered quickly and accurately. 

Bryan

Barrington, RI

--

[. dkoloko]

On Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 9:03 PM, Bryan Lorber <bryl...@gmail.com> wrote:

If you email Andy Clarke (LAB President), I'm sure your questions can be answered quickly and accurately. 

Bryan

I asked the League a simple question, when entrepreneurs run bicycle tours with League auspices, how much does the entrepreneur get, and how much does the League get? No reply to several requests.

League reply may be an event.

I replied to this list to query on list with questions that came to mind to answer.

Demetri

[Andrejs]

On 12/14/12 9:35 PM, . dkoloko wrote:
> I asked the League a simple question, when entrepreneurs run bicycle
> tours with League auspices, how much does the entrepreneur get, and
> how much does the League get? No reply to several requests.

Does that happen? I'm not aware of tours run with LAB auspices. Do you
have examples?

Andrejs
Ithaca, NY

[. dkoloko]

There were several; hence the question.

Demetri

[Mark_Hoagy]

Well then starting next pay period I'll start contributing to the cause
and be part of the solution rather then sitting on my laurels twiddling
my thumbs wondering if anything will change for the better.

Thank you folks.

[Chuck Davis]

Here in Oklahoma the Oklahoma Freewheel organization is a member of LAB; and Adventure Cycling

 

Our State MS 150 ride has links to LAB on their web site

 

Obliquely/incompletely addressing the "auspices" quaere

 

Andy Clarke has been to Oklahoma at least a couple of times and is one the more articulate, friendly and unpretentious spokes (get it?) person I have ever had the chance to meet

 

 

 

On Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 9:48 PM, Andrejs <and...@ozolins.com> wrote:

Does that happen? I'm not aware of tours run with LAB auspices. Do you have examples?