On-campus bicycle classes offer tips to students

By Ariel Waldeck

Bicycle education classes are being offered on campus for students to learn and improve biking practices.

Two different groups of classes are being offered — one by the UK Health & Wellness Program and the second by the YMCA of Central Kentucky.

Calvin Dougherty, a linguistics junior, said many students don’t understand biking rules.

“I see people around campus all the time who don’t ride like they should,” Dougherty said. “I have even seen someone hit by a car. I think people don’t realize that when you are riding a bike you are supposed to obey the rules just like a car does.”

Luke Howell, a kinesiology junior, said he thinks much of the information seems to be common knowledge, but he did find some skills that would be useful while riding a bike.

“Learning how to fix a flat is beneficial and it’s an underappreciated skill, I think,” Howell said.

The UK Health & Wellness class will be taught by Michael Galbraith, a League of American Bicyclists-certified instructor. It will teach students the basics of route and gear selections.

The class, Road 101: Bike Commuting Class, will also teach riding skills and is recommended for those who already know how to ride a bike.

After the class is over a short ride will take place around campus to practice the new skills taught in class.Participants must bring their own bike, and helmets are required to participate in the ride. The class will be held on Wednesday from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. Participants are to meet on the outdoor bleachers outside of the Joe Craft Center.

The second class offered will have three parts. The YMCA of Central Kentucky has agreed to waive fees for these courses if students present a valid student ID.

According to a news release, the three courses include Traffic Skills 101 and 201, and a commuter class.

Traffic Skills 101 will focus on safety techniques. The eight-hour course will be held in four sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. from April 16 – 25. The course will also be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The class fee is $20.

Traffic Skills 201 is for advanced bike riders. The class will have four sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. from May 14 – 23. The fee is$25.

The Commuter class is for adult cyclists who are interested in exploring the idea of biking to work or school. This class will be held Tuesday, May 1, and Thursday, May 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The class costs $10.

To learn more about these classes and how to register for them visit http://www.uky.edu/HR/wellness/bikeclass.html or http://www.ymcaofcentralky.org/branches/high-street-ymca.

Participants can also contact the High Street YMCA at (859) 254-9622 to get more information about the classes.