Programs

Programs to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC) is dedicated to helping people with disabilities achieve their cycling goals. To accomplish these goals, we have established training techniques that have been successful for years. We work with any ability level and any person three years old or older.

Summer Programs

The first day of the program is the assessment. At that time, an appropriate training time is established for the duration of the summer. Each student participates in approximately one-hour sessions twice a week for the seven-week period.

Students begin working in a roped-off parking lot to learn basic skills. As students gain skills, they move to bike paths, then low-volume roads.

PEAC uses a variety of equipment, from adaptive trikes to standard mountain bikes. Students will have the opportunity to ride tandems, which develops balance and strength, and most students think the tandem is "really cool." While most equipment is available for student use on-site, a student may want to bring his or her own bike if it is specifically adapted, or just personal preference.

Helmets are required, and we recommend bringing a helmet to the site if you have one. Helmets will be available for use if it is forgotten or you do not have one.

2008 Training Sites and Schedules

The summer program begins Wednesday, June 25 and ends Thursday, August 7th. The first day for each site is assessments, and those will be scheduled the first week in June. Confirmation of registration will be sent via email or mail beginning the first week of May. Note: Ann Arbor sites receive funding from Mott Children's Hospital and Dance Marathon, which ensures programming twice a week.

• Ann Arbor: Tues/Thurs, beginning June 26th and ending August 7th
• Ann Arbor: Mon/Wed, beginning June 25th and ending August 6th
• Saline: Mondays, June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4th
• Taylor: Tuesdays, July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and August 5th
• Plymouth: Site is now full
• Detroit: Thursdays, June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, and August 7th

There is a $30 fee to participate, and $50 if families have more than one child participating. This fee covers a fraction of the cost of the program. You will be able to pay online for the program, or send in a check with your application.

To ensure a safe, quality program, we have limited openings. We accept students on a first come, first serve basis, however early applications are accepted for returning participants. Applications will be accepted for returning participants beginning on April 1, 2008, and new participants can apply beginning April 13, 2007. If you have any questions, please call Erin at 734-674-6725.

Apply Online
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Release and Waiver of Liability*

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Family Rides

Every Thursday evening from the beginning of May through the end of October, PEAC hosts family rides at Willow Metropark at Washago Pond. Ride Options are:

• To start: a slow four-mile ride
• To continue after the slow ride:
  • Riders can choose a faster six-mile ride, or
  • Another slow ride, or
  • Choose to go home after the first ride.

We ride on the Metropark trails, which are multi-use paved trails. No rider is left alone, and people of many different ability levels can join us. If you need to borrow equipment, please call Erin at 734-674-6725. We will try our best to make it possible for participants and their families to join us for this weekly event. Not a participant? If you can ride four miles and bring your own equipment, feel free to join us.

When: Thursdays, 6:00 pm, between April 19 and October 25

Where: Willow Metropark

Who can come: Anyone!

League of American Bicyclists BikeEd Programs

PEAC offers courses designed by the League of American Bicyclist's (LAB) Bike Ed Program. PEAC staff and volunteers have been trained by the LAB to conduct these courses to help people become better vehicular cyclists. Please call the PEAC office at 734-484-2758 if you are interested in joining a class or setting up a class with one of our instructors.

As roadways and bike trails become increasingly complex and congested, do you know all you need to know to safely ride a bicycle? Do you feel you know enough to teach your children how to ride cautiously and conspicuously while on their own? When you drive your car, are you confident on how to share the road with bicyclists? The BikeEd program gives you the tips, tools, and techniques to confidently to answer YES to each of those questions.

On our roadways, bikes are treated as vehicles. Simply knowing how to ride a bike is not the same as knowing how to operate a bike safely and legally.

The Bike Ed program is a set of curricula for adults and children and the certified instructors that teach it. BikeEd classes are taught across the United States by certified League Cycling Instructors (LCI).

Course descriptions:

ROAD I

Gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. Recommended for adults and children above age fourteen, this fast-paced, nine-hour course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling.

ROAD II

For more advanced students with an understanding of vehicular cycling principles, this twelve-hour course includes fitness and physiology, training for longer rides, advanced mechanics, paceline skills, advanced traffic negotiation, foul weather riding and night riding. Student manuals are included with each class.

COMMUTING

For adult cyclists who wish to explore the possibility of commuting to work or school by bike. This three hour follow-up to Road I covers topics including route selection, bicycle choice, dealing with cargo and clothing, bike parking, lighting, reflection, and foul weather riding. Included with the class are handouts and student materials.

MOTORIST EDUCATION

A 3-hour classroom session, this course can be easily added to a driver's education curriculum, such as diversion training for reckless drivers or a course designed local bus drivers. Directed towards motorists in general, topics covered include roadway positioning of cyclists, traffic and hand signals, principles of right-of-way and left and right turn problems. Materials include Share the Road literature for bicyclists and motorists as well as other fact sheets.

KIDS I

Designed for parents, instructors explain how to teach a child to ride a bike. Topcis covered include how to perform a bicycle safety check, helmet fitting and bike sizing. Includes 10-minute 'Kids Eye View' video and a brochure for parents.

KIDS II

This 7-hour class for 5th and 6th graders covers the same topics as Road I, including on-bike skills as well as choosing safe routes for riding.