Ride with more confidence, more awareness, and a better plan for the road ahead.

 

The Smart Cycling / Safe Riding Workshop is for riders who already know how to ride and want to feel safer and more prepared riding on streets, paths, bike lanes, and through everyday traffic situations. This hands-on workshop helps riders move beyond simply staying upright and begin riding with purpose: seeing hazards earlier, communicating clearly, choosing good lane position, and understanding how to “drive” a bicycle predictably and confidently.

 

This workshop is a great next step for riders who want to commute by bike, ride more comfortably around town, join group rides, ride with family, or simply feel less uncertain when sharing the road with cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists.

 

Students will learn and practice practical Smart Cycling skills, including scanning, signaling, lane positioning, hazard avoidance, group riding awareness, basic bicycle safety checks, and the core habits of safer riding: Ride Ready, Be Predictable, Be Conspicuous, Think Ahead, and Follow the Law. Students will also receive a Smart Cycling manual to keep as a reference after the workshop.

 

This is not a Learn to Ride class. Riders should already be able to start, stop, steer, brake, shift, and ride comfortably before attending. If you are a new or returning rider who needs help with basic riding confidence first, please consider our Adult Riding Confidence Class.

 

How the Workshop Works

The workshop has two parts:

1. Online instruction and testing
   Students complete the online learning portion at their convenience before the on-bike session. A score of 80% or higher is required to complete this portion. This helps riders arrive with a shared understanding of the basic concepts so the in-person time can focus on practice, coaching, and real-world application.
2. Hands-on on-bike instruction
   The on-bike session typically lasts 3–4 hours, depending on class size, rider skill levels, and conditions. The session begins in a parking lot or similar controlled area where students practice bike handling, safety checks, scanning, signaling, hazard avoidance, lane positioning, and other core riding skills.

The workshop then moves to a supervised group ride on local streets, where students apply what they learned in real riding situations with instructor guidance and support. This is where the concepts become practical: reading the road, making safer choices, riding predictably, and building confidence one decision at a time.

Please bring a bicycle in safe working order, a properly fitting helmet, water, snacks, and clothing appropriate for the weather. Helmets are required.

 

At the end of the workshop, students will complete a short feedback form, and the instructor will complete a road test score sheet to document the skills practiced and demonstrated.

 

Registration closes 7 days before each workshop to allow time for students to complete the online instruction and testing. Class size is limited, so early registration is recommended. Once registration is completed, students will be directed to the payment page.

 

Upcoming Dates:

• Saturday August 29
• Saturday September 26
• Saturday November 28

 

Course fee: The full course value is $250. WashCo Bikes subsidizes this workshop so riders pay $75. Grants and scholarships may be available when cost is a barrier.