Advocacy & Safety - What is the League of American Bicyclists?

Are they just a lobbying group? Do they actually do some good? Does anyone here belong to the group and do you consider the $30 for dues a year, worth it?

http://www.bikeleague.org

They used to be the League Of Ameican Wheelmen, long proud history there, unfortunately my understanding is part of that long proud history is some racism and some controversy lately whether they're doing the advocacy job they should, and there's been some rearranging, hence the new name. I guess it could be worse, Wheelpersons? Wheelpeople?

I belong. I'm also an LCI (League [Certified] Cycling Instructor). LAB is one of the few organizations whose instructors are recognized as legitimate cycling instructors.

I belong. I'm also an LCI (League [Certified] Cycling Instructor). LAB is one of the few organizations whose instructors are recognized as legitimate cycling instructors.

I just took the Road I course last weekend. I found it very helpful and informative. Now I even know how to change my tire, though it was hard to get much hands-on experience since the guys in the class kept trying to take over. :)

I belong. I'm also an LCI (League [Certified] Cycling Instructor). LAB is one of the few organizations whose instructors are recognized as legitimate cycling instructors.

This is not intended as a slam or slight, it is a serious question?

Who recognizes LAB cycling instructors (LCI) as one of the few who are legitimate. Do any local, state or federal courts/governments recognize them and if so, to what benefit?

This is not intended as a slam or slight, it is a serious question?

Who recognizes LAB cycling instructors (LCI) as one of the few who are legitimate. Do any local, state or federal courts/governments recognize them and if so, to what benefit?
Excellent question.
What representative organization/agency recognizes the superior legitmacy of LCI's, their course of instruction, or or improvements, accomplishments or changed behavior of LCI's students? How was this alleged "recognition" gained; by measured results or by lack of alternatives? Or by wishful thinking?

Lack of response may indicate how solid that recognition is.

Excellent question.
What representative organization/agency recognizes the superior legitmacy of LCI's, their course of instruction, or or improvements, accomplishments or changed behavior of LCI's students? How was this alleged "recognition" gained; by measured results or by lack of alternatives?

The International Police Mountain Biking Association incorporates the LAB Road 1 course material and on-bike instruction into its officer training.

http://www.ipmba.org/


IPMBA Certified Training Courses
IPMBA offers internationally recognized Certification and Training Courses. These courses were developed by experts in the fields of police and EMS cycling, and are used by public safety agencies around the world. This training, delivered to thousands of public safety cyclists each year by IPMBA's cadre of certified Instructors, provides skills for safe and effective use of the bicycle in police and EMS work.


The IPMBA course is fascinating in the law-enforcement-specific training that it adds far and above the basic Road 1 course. The April 2004 issue of Law and Order Magazine had a great article about it.

-Steve Goodridge

Is that article available online?

Is that article available online?

No, but I have scanned the pages as TIFF image files with the intent of eventually OCRing them.

Do you know of a good place where I could upload the page images so you can read them? Each page is a bit over 100 KBytes.

-Steve