We had a great turnout of families who joined Bike Walk CT, Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, Southington Police Bike Patrol, and Bike New Britain at our second annual Bike Safe Southington on Friday evening.
The attendees enthusiastically participated in several event activities such as the "melon drop" demonstration, the "how slow can you go" race, and the bicycle part tagging competition.

Click here to REGISTER FOR TS 101--Sept 13, 2015

Bike Walk CT is offering another League of American Bicyclist-designed Traffic Skills 101 program, a comprehensive, day long course to give cyclists the skills, knowledge and confidence to handle on-road cycling. As a cyclist your skills and behavior on the road greatly affect your safety. Learn how to take control of your safety.

• WHEN: Sunday, September 13th, 8AM-5PM
  
• WHERE: The Downtown District Visitor Center, 66 West Main Street, New Britain, CT
  
• COST: Bike Walk CT members: $50; Nonmembers: $65
  
• INSTRUCTOR: Tony Cherolis, League Certified Instructor (LCI) and several gracious LCI volunteers.
  
• Advance Registration Required. Register HERE before midnight on September 9th.  This class will sell out early, so don’t wait.
  

About Traffic Skills 101
TS 101 is a day long course consisting of approximately 4 hours in class and 4 hours outside, split between skill drills and an on-road ride. Among other things, you will practice starting, stopping, shifting and scanning, learn how to ride in traffic, including proper lane and intersection positioning, and crash avoidance techniques. You will practice all that you learn on brief road course. Successful completion of this course is a prerequisite for taking the League Certified Instructor course and other advanced league cycling courses.

The course is offered rain or shine, and will include outdoor segments unless the weather is severe.  We will ride in drizzle, but not in a t-storm.

Other Important Details

• Bring your bike, helmet, water bottle, lunch
• The class starts at 8 am sharp!  Please arrive no later than 7:45 am.
  
• Class size is limited to 20, so register early!  
  
• A minimum of 10 registrants is needed to hold the class.
  
• Sorry, no refunds unless the class must be cancelled.

Click here to REGISTER FOR TS 101--Sept 13, 2015

Bike Walk CT is offering the League of American Bicyclist-designed Traffic Skills 101 program, a comprehensive day long course to give cyclists the skills, knowledge and confidence to handle on-road cycling.  As a cyclist your skills and behavior on the road greatly affect your safety.  Learn how to take control of your safety.

WHEN:  Sunday, July 19th, 8AM-5PM
WHERE:  Bishops Corner, West Hartford - The Underground, 740 North Main Street, West Hartford, 06117
COST:  Bike Walk CT members:  $50; Nonmembers:  $65
INSTRUCTOR:  Tony Cherolis, League Certified Instructor (LCI) and several gracious LCI volunteers.

Bike Walk CT is again offering the League of American Bicyclist-designed Traffic Skills 101 program, a day long course to give cyclists the skills, knowledge and confidence to handle on-road cycling in traffic.  

WHEN:  Sunday, April 12, 2015, 7:45 am to 5 pm
WHERE:   Thomas W Raftery, Inc. 1055 Broad Street, Hartford (corner of Broad and Jefferson).  Cyclists and cars can pull into the indoor garage for parking - the door is located on Jefferson, just west of Broad.
COST:  Bike Walk CT members:  $50; Nonmembers:  $65
INSTRUCTORS:  Tony Cherolis and Rob O'Connor, both League Certified Instructors (LCIs)

About Traffic Skills 101
TS 101 is a day long course consisting of approximately 4 hours in class and 4 hours outside, split between skills drills and an on-road ride.  Among other things, you will practice starting, stopping, shifting and scanning, learn how to ride in traffic, including proper lane and intersection positioning, and crash avoidance techniques. You will practice all that you learn on a ride through the streets of Hartford.  Successful completion of this course is a prerequisite for taking the League Certified Instructor course.

Other Important Details

• Bring your bike, helmet, water bottle, lunch
• The class starts at 8 am sharp!  Please arrive no later than 7:45 am.
  
• Class size is limited to 20, so register early!  
  
• A minimum of 10 registrants is needed to hold the class.
  
• Sorry, no refunds unless the class must be cancelled.

>>REGISTER FOR TS 101 ON APRIL 12, 2015

Simsbury Parks and Rec. has pushed back the  Teen  Mountain Biking Clinic by one week.  New dates/time are listed below.

Mountain Biking 101 Clinic for Teens
Sat. Sept. 13 & Sunday Sept 14, 1:00-4:00 pm
Learn fundamentals.  Advance your skills.  Gain confidence on the trail.

If you're a teen who is proficient at riding a bike, you have a decent level of fitness, and you want to learn how to mountain bike on technical trails through the woods, this clinic is for you.   You'll learn:  proper body positioning,  climbing and descending techniques, braking quickly without skidding or going over the bars (a.k.a. an "endo"), the best lines in technical terrain, how to maneuver around and over things like roots, rocks and logs.

Ages 12-17.  Girls encouraged to attend.
Certified Mountain Bike Instructor:   Margie Bowen
http://www.simsburyrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=28734

Also, Biking-Traffic Skills 101 on Sun., Sept. 14 still has a few openings. 
 
Biking -Traffic Skills 101
Sunday, Sept. 14, 8:30 am – 5 pm
For the skills, knowledge and confidence  to ride safely and legally on roads and multi-use trails. 
Through classroom instruction, on-bike drills, and a group ride, this class will cover
the bicycle safety check, starting, stopping, shifting, scanning, proper lane/intersection positioning, crash avoidance techniques, and fixing a flat.  Completion of Traffic Skills 101 is a prerequisite for other cycling courses including the certification course for League Cycling Instructors.

Ages 15 and up.  
League Certified Instructors (LCI’s):   Jim Arnold & Steve Mitchell
This class is being sponsored by Mitchell Auto Group.
http://www.simsburyrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=28708

Please spread the word.  Thank you and safe riding.
For questions, contact:  Debbie Thibodeau, Simsbury Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, c. 860-539-0538

360 Federal Credit Union will hold a Bike Safety Day on Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The event will give kids ages 4-14 the chance to learn bicycle safety tips from the Enfield Police Department. They will also have the chance to ride their bicycles and perform agility exercises through an obstacle course. 

360 Federal Credit Union is holding the event to prevent injuries and accidents. Participants will learn about traffic signs, proper hand signals and staying away from dangerous traffic. 

For more information visit thttp://www.360fcu.org or contact Carissa at 860-627-4238 or carissa.pape@360fcu.org.

The annual Kids Health and Safety Day will take place in Middletown on Saturday, June 14 from 10 to 2 p.m.

The day will include a 4.5 mile family bike ride that is sponsored by the Middletown Complete Streets Committee. The ride will leave at 9:30 a.m. from the Cross Street A.M.E. Zion Church on West Street. 

There will also be a bike rodeo where kids can bring their bicycles for a free safety check from Pedal Power. 

For more information, read the article in the Hartford Courant here. 

HAMDEN — Traveling on Connecticut roadways require care and courtesy, whether operating a car or a bicycle. To generate a greater awareness for bicycles — in May/National Bicycle Safety Month, and at all times of the year — AAA Southern New England shares these tips for motorists and bicyclists alike.

Motorists must:

• Stay alert.
  
• Yield to bicyclists when turning.
  
• Check your mirrors and blind spots for bicyclers before entering or leaving a lane of traffic.
  
• Slow down and give at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.
  
• Always check for bicyclists when opening your car door.
  
• Because bicyclists can ride on all roads, excepted where restricted, they have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists including the right to ride in the traffic lane. 

Bicyclists must:

• Follow the same traffic rules of the road as other roadway users.
  
• Ride in the same direction as traffic.
  
• Wear a bicycle helmet on every ride.
• Be visible by wearing bright colors during the day and reflective gear in low light conditions.

To mark National Bicycle Safety Month, AAA Southern New England has rolled out a new bicycle roadside assistance for its members in Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven Counties.

The new free program means AAA members can request assistance if a disabled bicycle needs minor repairs or requires transportation to a nearby destination within one of these three counties.

To request service, members call the 800-AAA-HELP (800-222-4357), the roadside assistance number on their AAA membership card. An AAA service vehicle will meet members on any generally traveled road within AAA Southern New England’s territory, any time of day, 365 days a year.

After attempting minor repairs, if the AAA technician is unable to get the member back on the road, the member and bicycle will be transported free of charge within a defined radius.

More information on bicycle safety tips, brochures, videos, and the roadside assistance program, visitwww.aaa.com/bikesafety.

The town of Clinton will hold its fourth annual Bike/Ped Fest on Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include family-friendly activities such as a bike-decorating station, a parking lot parade, traffic-skills primer, bike-helmet fitting, bike maintenance checks and a Family Fun Ride. 

Registration for the Family Fun Ride is Free and all ages and ability levels are welcomed to participate. Helmets are required. 

The event will be held at the Clinton Town Hall, 54 East Main St. 

For more information, visit www.clintonct.org/bike-pedestrian-alliance.php.