“The class was awesome! I attended with my husband and our two children. I really appreciated the straight-forward lessons in bike safety, perfectly pitched for kids. Best of all was ending with the bike ride around town.
I have been telling all my friends-with-kids about this class and my husband and I have already donated to Bike East Bay as we really appreciated all the organization and thoughtfulness of the program. The most valuable part for me was the opportunity for my children to hear about the importance of bicycle safety from someone other than myself/my husband. And that they saw other kids being safe and having fun on their bicycles in the urban-ish environment we live in. Great job!“
Laura, Family Cycling Workshop attendee
“I spent this morning and early afternoon pedaling a bicycle around a parking lot in Berkeley. No big deal – right? Actually, it’s the biggest deal, because before today, I never learned to ride a bike. I tried a few times as an adult, and basically just tried to jump on and start riding, and it didn’t work. So I thought I would never learn. But it turns out that in 3 hours, with some well-designed instruction time, I can be doing it for real.
Thank you for teaching me to ride a bike Bike East Bay!! I still need a little practice before I’m road-worthy, but I’ve got the basics down, and I had a great time!
What previously-unattainable goal shall I try to unlock next, friends? I saw a beautiful painting in a restaurant afterwards, and I thought to myself “hmm, I’ve never been able to paint before, but who knows? This changes everything!”
Amy, Adult Learn-to-Ride class attendee
“I have always shied away from learning to ride a bike because I did not understand how it can be done safely. I do now after attending this class. I am today a better motorist because I am more aware of the people I share the road with.”
Urban Cycling 101: Day 1 class attendee
“I can’t believe this class was FREE! How informative! The instructor was great. I mean GREAT! She was so good at patiently answering questions and guiding people who had their own personal advice and experience.
Thanks so much for a lovely experience and thoroughness. I grew up riding bikes in very quiet and hilly suburban neighborhoods. I have never rode a bike in urban areas, much less ON THE STREET of an urban city. But now that I live in Oakland and my commute is 2 miles away, I got a bike and am learning everything I can before I jump on it. Thanks Bike East Bay!!“
Diana, Urban Cycling 101: Day 1 attendee
“I left feeling like everyone who ever embarks on biking in an urban area should be required to take this class. An immediate consequence of the class has made me a much more aware DRIVER of my car! I am so aware of cyclists now and super courteous. I joined Bike East Bay immediately because I thought it was super important to support such a needed and giving institution. Thank you for all the support you give the biking and driving community.”
Melissa, Urban Cycling 101: Day 1 attendee
“A must take course for the newbie and the experienced rider. The course laid out on the playground was enlightening, and riding in traffic was also a plus. Though I’ve done this before in Berkeley, it did increase my confidence.“
Tony, Urban Cycling 101: Day 2 attendee
“My 9-year-old son and I had a great time learning more about biking and rules of the road. I can see the skills he gained each day as we ride to school together. I feel much more confident about him being able to bike to school on his own next year.“
Lori, Family Cycling Workshop attendee
“My son David really got a lot out of the bicycle skills class — thanks so much! We live in Fremont, and my son’s biking 6 mi. to school (leaving in the dark in the a.m.), so I really wanted him to have the class. He’s going to take the road class too coming up on October 31.”
Carolyn, Urban Cycling 101: Day 1 attendee
“I better understand “the rules” and my confidence is increased, which raises the level of both my comfort and safety. I appreciated the mix of lecture, demonstration, diagram explanations, video examples, and resources provided on paper to take with me. It felt empowering and supportive to participate with other bicyclists, enforcing my connection to the whole local biking community.”
Donna, Urban Cycling 101: Day 1 attendee
“I’ve been biking for nearly 50 years – and I learned some great basic stuff in this class. I would recommend this to anyone who bikes.”
John, Urban Cycling 101: Day 1 attendee
“Good refresher class on bike road rules and bike safety. Cycling in the urban environment was very beneficial, both the initial lessons in the school yard and on the streets. I gained more confidence in taking my lane and staying a safe distance from parked cars in the bike lanes. Great instructors. Presentations were clear and informative. Very enjoyable and fun day. Gained more confidence and I have been riding my bike more. Thank you for the new lights and I am wearing my Bike East Bay safety vest.”
Joan, Urban Cycling 101: Day 2 attendee
“I left the class feeling a lot more confident while out on the road. I now know how to become a part of the traffic rather than trying to avoid it. This is a great program here. I’m glad I was able to attend. I’m sure the information I learned there has already saved my life more than once. So, thank you. :)”
Lee, Urban Cycling 101: Day 1 attendee
“I feel much more confident and relaxed on the road, now that I know how to position myself and how to communicate with drivers. I’ve noticed very experienced cyclists doing very risky maneuvers and now I know a bad example when I see it!”
Ellen, Urban Cycling 101: Day 1 attendee
“You know the type, aging, maybe a grey goatee, riding an expensive carbon bike, riding up to 10,000 miles a year, who the #$%^ are you to tell me anything about bike safety?
Well, that was me, and mostly still is, except that I honestly got a lot out of an Bike East Bay, Urban Bicycling Skills 101 class, and look forward to far safer riding in the future!”Brian Aldrich – President, Grizzly Peak Cyclists
“I wanted to thank you for leading the Urban Cycling 101 class at Berkeley… I just bought my first bike since childhood and I was initially so overwhelmed by riding in traffic. The class was really great and I feel a lot more comfortable trying to ride my bike around. The videos were great and I loved that it was so comprehensive. I signed up for the road class, and I just joined Bike East Bay as a member.”
Alexis Urban Cycling 101: Day 1 attendee
“I just wanted to say “Thank You” for coming to present the Bicycle Class to our employees this past week. I have received so many positive comments about the class. Beginner riders appreciated the information. One person told me he didn’t know he was riding unsafely but now he is glad to know where to be on the road (and off the sidewalk). Even the experienced riders said that they were reminded of important tips. This is a great program and you did an awesome job presenting.”
Anne, 1-Hour Workshop attendee
“I just wanted to thank you for putting on this class (adult bike riding course in Oakland). I found it extremely beneficial, and such a wonderful opportunity. I’m 33 years old, and have been saying for years that I wanted to learn how to ride a bike. I even bought a bike last year and never used it. Now, I’ve been to the coffee shop and to the market nearby by bike! What a wonderful program! If I knew any other adults who Don’t know how to ride a bike, I’d be sure to send along this information.”
Leah, Adult Learn-to-Ride attendee
“I’d like to express my gratitude of the bike training you provided for us on Saturday. The program is well-organized, very useful in safety awareness, stimulating as well. My daughter became quite interested in biking afterward, and we plan to go biking every weekend.”
Junqiang, Family Cycling Workshop attendee
