Advocacy & Safety - I'm officially a member.

Of the League of American Bicyclists, or LAB that is. Received my membership card yesterday.

Anyone else a member?

How about other organizations like Rails to Trails Conservancy, or RTC?

How many more are there anyway?

Obviously being a member of the LAB and or the RTC is a good idea. But what about other organizations? Are they worth joining?

Which ones are recommended that I stay away from?

Very cool, N_C.

:thumbup:

I am a current member of both LAB and IMBA. Thanks for joining, If just 10% of cyclists joined the LAB we could get quite a bit done.

I'm in RTC. What are those others i.e. why should I join? What do they do?
Thanks
Joe

Originally posted by N_C
Of the League of American Bicyclists, or LAB that is. Received my membership card yesterday.

Anyone else a member?
I'm a card carrying member of LAB, a League Cycling Instructor, on the "board" of the Southern Bicycle League (http://www.bikesbl.org), member of the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (http://www.atlantabike.org/home.htm), and GeorgiaBikes! (it's a new statewide cycling advocacy organization still in the planning stage).

I also check in regularly with Thunderhead Alliance (http://www.thunderheadalliance.org/index.asp), America Bikes (http://www.americabikes.org/), Bikes Belong (http://bikesbelong.org/site/intro.cfm), etc.

I am a member of IMBA, Adventure Cycling, and Rails to Trails, as well as a donating member to NYNJ TC (hiking group), America Bikes, and the Nature Conservatory...

I would contribute to the Nature Conservatory although it's not bike specific, they are a great organization and seem to do alot of land acquisition to keep out sprawl. Adv. Cycling is also a great organization for bike tourers...

Jay

Ron, what's a League Cycling Instructor? That sounds interesting to me....

Koffee

I am active in the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and the California Bicycle Coalition, and I keep meaning to join the League of American Bicyclists (thanks for the reminder!).

But son, there is no STAR by your name<!!!

Pay up to the bikeforum to be the really cool guy you are.:beer:

Originally posted by Koffee Brown
Ron, what's a League Cycling Instructor? That sounds interesting to me....

Koffee
A League Cycling Instructor is someone who is "certified" by LAB to teach cyclists (experienced or newbies, kids, adults, or seniors) the necessary skills for riding on the road. This includes basic bike maintenance (like how to repair a flat tire), bike handling skills (riding in a straight line, signaling, avoiding potholes and rocks, looking over your shoulder, changing lanes, etc.), rules of the road, and bike and equipment basics (what is a derailleur, correct way to wear a helmet, bike fit, etc.).

To become certified you must take AND pass the LCI training course.
For more information go to the LAB website ( http://www.bikeleague.org/index.cfm ) and click on "Bicycle Advocacy & Education Center". Then click on "League Cycling Instructors". That page will give you some basic information.
To learn more or to find out when LAB will be offering a training course in your area send an email to LAB.

It's loads of fun and very rewarding. Helping people who are inexperienced or (more often) afraid of traffic and riding on the road to learn how to ride with traffic and enjoy cycling beyond their neighborhood streets and bike paths.
I know lots of people who were afraid to go on group rides until they took the class.

The classes that LCIs teach are: Road I, Road II, Commuting, Kids I, Kids II, and Motorist Education.

If you're interested here (http://www.atlantabike.org/ec.htm) is a listing of the upcoming classes in the Atlanta area.

I used to be [a league member] but let my membership lapse due several things that bug me about the LAB.

1. They have gotten too hung up on bike paths, helmet, and kiddie bike advocacy.

2. They are now run by bike shop owners and manufactures, instead of bike riders.

3. Improprieties with the last board election.

We need a good national organization to look out for our interests, but IMO the current LAB isn't it.

Cascade Bike club, rails to trails, and Bicycle Alliance Washington I decided on the local level since iI have only a few dollars to spare.

Belong to Texas Bicycle Coalition to try and fight some
of the idiocy here in Texas. Even if I'm not as involved as
I might be I figure my $ help.
I also am a member of BikeForums, which if you post here
you should be too!

Marty

HEY!!! send Joe $20 before you can think of becoming offically anything..

oh yeah and a member of bikeforums.net:)