"Basic Street Skills" Bicycle Safety Classes for Adults
Classes are held multiple times per year at various locations throughout Marin County. These classes uniquely allow bicycle traffic citation fee reduction through class attendance. Cyclists are the most vulnerable users of public roads; this class will teach you how to ride and drive defensively and avoid road rage behaviors.
In just two hours, this powerpoint and interactive presentation will teach participants to safely and confidently use a bicycle for transportation. Topics covered include how to avoid crashes and citations, improve visibility, ride through intersections, the legal rights and obligations of cyclists, and more. Drivers benefit from the class as well, by learning how and why bicycles maneuver on the roads.
A bicycle is not necessary for the class, unless you plan to ride one there!
Current Class Dates and Locations
Classes are held throughout Marin County; a link for directions to each class appears at the end of each class listing.
- Tuesday, March 6th, 2012, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at Marin General Hospital, 250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae
- Thursday, May 10th, 2012, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at Marin General Hospital, 250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae
- Thursday, July 12th, 2012, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at Marin General Hospital, 250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae
- Thursday, September 6th, 2012, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at Marin General Hospital, 250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae
- Tuesday, November 6th, 2012, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at Marin General Hospital, 250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae
If the currently scheduled class date is not available to you, please contact peggy@marinbike.org to be notified of upcoming class dates.
Pre-registration and pre-payment ($40 per person; $30 MCBC members) required in advance. Refunds are not provided to insure class attendance. To become an MCBC member, join here.
Click here to register online.
Click here to download a registration form PDF.
Bike Parking and Transit
Bike racks are available at all sites, but must be used at your own risk. Be sure to lock your bike to the rack and remove all valuables from it.
Marin General -To get to the racks from the West Entrance, go up the hill and merge left to the backside of the hospital; the parking station is just past the merge on the left past a trailer.
Mill Valley Community Center - Racks are located on the south side of the recreations center, on the pathway to the Aquatic Center.
Hill Community Room - Racks are located in the breezeway between the Margaret Todd Center and the Hill Community Room Building.
For more information visit www.goldengatetransit.org.
Traffic Ticket Reduction
These classes uniquely allow bicycle traffic infraction citation fee reduction through class attendance. The Marin County Superior Court will refund a portion of the traffic infraction citation fee upon successfully completing the class (refunds depend on each defendant's circumstances). This partnership with Marin County Superior Court is the second of its kind in the Bay Area to provide bicycle education as a traffic court option.
Cyclists that receive a citation/infraction on a bicycle that is a "California Vehicle Code violation" are permitted by the Marin County Court to attend a Basic Street Skills class to reduce the citation fee.
Cyclists that receive an off-road citation/infraction(any municipal code violation) are not eligible for a fee reduction unless the infraction is a "California Vehicle Code Violation".
Please bring a copy of your citation to the class for inclusion on your Certifcate of Attendance.
Class Instructor Frances Barbour
Frances has a long history of involvement in the cycling community. She became a committed bicycle commuter in college. After graduating she took-up road riding. She discovered the joys of mountain biking when she moved to the Bay Area. In 2000, Frances joined the MCBC at the Fairfax Festival. Needless to say, she loves the cycling life in Marin!
Frances' past professions include Outreach Coordinator for MCBC (2003-04), where she helped grow the organization's membership. Frances currently teaches the Safe Routes to School curriculum throughout Marin's public and private primary schools. She also conducts Share the Road presentations and Bike Commuting workshops for adults through the MCBC. Frances is a League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructor.
League Cycling Instructor Cheryl Longinotti is the alternate instructor for the class.
For a listing of all Street Skills classes taught around the Bay Area by League Cycling Instructors (LCIs), click here.