League Cycling Instructors

Thank you for your interest in becoming a League Cycling Instructor (LCI). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (202) 822-1333.

You must be or become a member of the League of American Bicyclists. Annual membership dues start at $40. Click here to join or renew.

How do I know if I’m qualified to become an LCI?

If you are an experienced and knowledgeable cyclist with a desire to make cycling safe and accessible for others, you are on the right track. The League seeks to certify those of its members (yes, membership in the League is required) who are self-starters, passionate about cycling are recognized within their communities as riders with experience, and want to teach.

Completion of a Traffic Skills 101 course is a prerequisite for attending a seminar. If you have not taken the Traffic Skills 101 course from a certified instructor, you must do so prior to the seminar. Other cycling classes cannot replace Traffic Skills 101 as this cours provides helpful preparation even for advanced cyclists who want to become LCIs, both to familiarize candidates with the structure and content of the course and to allow them to observe how others learn in the cycling environment. Ideally, Traffic Skills 101 should be taken 3-6 months prior to the LCI Seminar, in order to allow the candidate to incorporate the skills and techniques from Traffic Skills 101 into his or her cycling. IPMBA PCIs can become LCIs through our PCI-to-LCI program, described here (PDF).

Prior to the seminar, you will also be required to take an open-book exam using your League Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Cycling book and video and your Traffic Skills 101 Student Notebook. You will send the exam answers to your coach, who will use the exam results to help assess your cycling knowledge and fine tune seminar activities accordingly. Your grade on your examination must be 85% or greater. Your coach will contact you if you score falls below 85% and provide counseling. Your coach is the final decision maker on your attendance in the seminar.

What is the LCI Seminar?

The LCI training seminar focuses on teaching and demonstration techniques you will use with your future students both on the road and in parking lot practice of hazard avoidance maneuvers. The seminar emphasis is on how to teach bicycle safety and skills so as to provide increased comfort and confidence for new and returning cyclists and youth. The Seminar does not emphasize the content or specific details of the cycling course curricula. It is primarily about teaching, and each candidate will have opportunities during the seminar to practice-teach parts of the Traffic Skills 101 curriculum, both in the classroom and in the parking lot. The seminar is normally one evening and two full days. The registration fee is $300 and includes the League Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Cycling book, Enjoy the Ride DVD and Smart Cycling instructor materials. All registration information and payment MUST be received at least 30 days prior to the seminar. There must be a minimum of 10 instructor candidates in each seminar.

Once you have become a League Cycling Instructor, there are annual requirements for remaining certified, including:

• Keeping League membership current.

• Renewing LCI status with the League once a year.

• Teaching or otherwise being active in your cycling community.

Click here for a list of League Cycling Instructor Seminars.

What do I get for my $300 fee?

The League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Certification Seminar registration fee of $300 covers:

• 20 hours of instruction, exercises and practice teaching both in the classroom and on the bike, usually during the course of a single weekend beginning on a Friday evening and ending on a Sunday afternoon.

• a copy of the League Guide to Safe and Effective Cycling

• Enjoy the Ride DVD (one covering adult cycling practices and one aimed at the parents of small children).

• a League Cycling Instructor Manual with curricula and support material for teaching classes to adults and children.

• access to the LCI Internet listserv where instructors discuss teaching issues and techniques.

• listing in the League’s national website database of instructors

• free online course postings on the League’s website.

• one year of coverage under the League’s individual liability insurance for LCIs, renewable each year for the maintenance fee of $25.

What if I miss the registration deadline?

Deadlines for registration are set in order to help you get the Pre-Seminar book and video in a timely way to permit you plenty of time to fill out the pre-test and send it to your Seminar Trainer. If you miss the deadline, contact the League. If we need to rush these materials to you after the registration deadline (30 days prior to the Seminar), we charge a $75 late fee.

What can I do with my League Cycling Instructor Certification?

As an LCI you are certified to teach the League’s bicycle education (Smart Cycling) curriculum including:

• Traffic Skills 101 (the basic introductory/intermediate course for adult cyclists)
• Traffic Skills 201 (an advanced adult course)
• Group Riding
• Commuting
• Bicycling 123 Youth
• Bicycling 123
• Safe Routes to School

For information on course content, go to here, and for descriptions of upcoming classes, go here. While most Smart Cycling courses are designed to be taught to groups of 1-10 students per instructor, they can be adapted to your local needs, and the needs of your students. As independent contractors, you are not employees of the League and you have the freedom to organize your classes to fit your needs as long as you cover the list of “need to know” elements for a given age group. You must collect signed waivers for all participants. You may also “team teach” with other instructors. Also, as independent contractors you are free to set your own fees and schedules. The League does not organize classes, but you may publicize your Smart Cycling classes for free on the League’s website.
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What happens at the Seminar?

The exact schedule varies slightly for each Seminar. You will receive a detailed Seminar agenda from your Site Facilitator or Seminar Coach. Please address specific questions about meals and breaks, lodging, equipment and other logistics to the Site Facilitator. Generally, 1/3 of your time at the Seminar is on-bike, so come prepared to ride about 5-10 miles per day on a variety of streets and road in a variety of traffic situations. The Seminar focuses on teaching and demonstration techniques and peer critiques will be an important part of this activity.
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Who will be my Seminar Coach?

The League Coaches are experienced at leading Seminars and coaching others to teach safe cycling. All Seminar Coaches have at least four years experience teaching students as LCIs, and have attended several LCI Seminars as observers and assistant coaches. Each coach has a broad knowledge of bicycle safety instruction and equipment maintenance. They are experts in the League’s Smart Cycling program. Additionally, many of our coaches have advanced training in bicycle mechanics, have experience with both mountain biking and road cycling, have done long-distance self-supported cycle touring, are active members of advocacy groups, and serve as officers in their local bicycle clubs.

What is the League’s cancellation policy for LCI Seminars?

Please notify the League in writing 30 days in advance if you cannot attend a Seminar for which you have registered, and you will receive credit toward a future Seminar or a full refund less a $50 administrative fee. If you notify the League 14 days prior to the seminar, 50% of the seminar fee will be refundable. If you notify the League within 7 days of the seminar, the entire fee is nonrefundable. Reasonable exceptions can be made for emergencies. In such an event, you should notify the Director of Education. A full refund will be provided for any seminar that is canceled due to low enrollment.

How am I assessed for certification?

The first requirement is that you complete the open-book pre-seminar exam, which consists of 50 multiple choice questions, 25 true/false questions, and 10 short answer essay questions. You will be tested on knowledge from your Traffic Skills 101 manual, the League Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Cycling book and video. Sending this completed test to your Seminar Coach no later than 10 days prior to the Seminar is a requirement for certification. If the test answers have not been sent to the Coach on time (you’ll be notified of the exact deadline upon registration) you may be asked by the Coach to attend a future Seminar instead. If your written test is not completed to the Coach’s satisfaction, he or she can ask you to attend a future Seminar instead.

The next area of assessment is your presentation skills, which you will be asked to demonstrate at the Seminar. You’ll be assigned two presentation topics, and asked to prepare a short presentation on each. You’ll be critiqued by your fellow candidates and assessed by the Coach on your effectiveness at presenting and demonstrating the material you are assigned.
During the on-road portion of the Seminar, your Coach will assess your knowledge of vehicular cycling principles including lane selection, roadway positioning, proper signaling, posture, shifting, cadence and group riding etiquette, among other important skills for leading students on rides. You will be expected to follow all local laws applicable to cyclists, obey signs and signals, and travel at speeds appropriate to the conditions. Items that will be examined during the road riding test are listed on the League’s website here (PDF).

Besides showing your knowledge of the basics, most importantly, you will be demonstrating to the Coach or coaching assistants your ability to convey the importance of key safety information to others. You must attend the full Seminar, unless your Coach tells you that certain sessions are optional. Your Coach will make an objective decision about your ability to be an effective instructor, and you will be given the results of his or her assessment at the end of the Seminar.
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What if the Coach does not recommend me for certification at the Seminar?

The Seminar Coach may feel that you are not ready for certification at the time of your training. The Coach may recommend that you do remedial course work with a specific LCI or other instructor. Once that instructor helps you fill the specific remedial requirements, he or she will notify your Coach, who will notify the League, and you will be eligible for certification. A Coach may also recommend that you attend a future Seminar. In that event, you will be entitled to attend a future Seminar at no cost.

What are the Smart Cycling program requirements once I become a League Cycling Instructor?

In order to maintain your LCI certification, you will be required to complete 12 hours of continuing education each year. Continuing education credits will be given for classes you teach and any involvement you have with bicycling. A full list of requirements will be given to you at the completion of your training. Each class you teach must be pre-announced to the League via the League’s online database, for which you will receive a password for access. After the class, course paperwork must be sent to the League. Copies of the Class Roster, Sign-in Sheet, Course Feedback Forms and Registration forms/ signed and dated waivers must be sent to the League. All of the forms/information should be sent electronically if possible. In order for you to be covered by the League’s insurance, you must follow all the League policies for teaching Smart Cycling courses.

You are also required to submit an annual renewal fee of $25 to keep your certification current. However, if your certification lapses, you can renew it at any time but your certification level may be reduced until you once again meet the requiurements of your former level.

How do I get the materials I need to teach Smart Cycling classes?

You can order materials from the League using the LCI Materials Order Form (PDF), or phone your orders in to the League at 202-822-1333. The League provides booklets, tests, forms and completion certificates for Traffic Skills 101, Traffic Skills 201 and Commuter courses. The League currently is out of stock on youth handout materials. You are authorized to reproduce materials on your own as well by copying the materials in your LCI Instructor Manual.

Discounted and bulk rates are also available to LCIs for The League Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Cycling. Order it here.

What other resources are available to me as an LCI?

The League offers LCIs free access to an online database where LCIs can post their upcoming courses. The course database is located here. LCIs can share their experiences and innovations with other LCIs through our network of instructors, connected via the LCI Google Groups listserve here: http://groups.google.com/group/lci-group. To be added to the list send an email with your name and LCI # to education@bikeleague.org.

Any LCI is entitled to attend any LCI Seminar as a refresher at no cost. LCIs must first secure the permission and approval of the Seminar Coach.

Contact the League’s Education Director, Alissa Simcox, if you have any more questions. Email: education@bikeleague.org Tel: 202-822-1333
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