Bike Smart Handbook
In partnership with the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Bikeway Program was able to leverage federal funds to obtain the creation and distribution of over 300,000 Bike Smart handbooks in English and Spanish as part of an education campaign. The campaign efforts include an educational component in three independent school districts: Alief, Houston, and Spring Branch. Teachers, with the use of the Teacher's Guide, will be able to apply the concepts presented in the handbook in learning activities throughout the school year. At the end of the year, students will be able to enter a contest to win one of two bicycles and helmets.
Adult Education Program
City recreation coordinators learn to teach bike safety by practicing safe cycling activities. |
The Houston Bikeway Program conducts presentations to introduce the bikeway network to Houston area residents. They also offer a train-the-trainer course on bicycle safety in partnership with the Houston Police Department Bike Patrol Administration. This course addresses safety and rules of the road for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians and includes a bikeway awareness component. The course introduces trainers to bike safety and provides the opportunity to learn ways to teach bike tips and awareness during in-house presentations, health and transportation fairs, brown-bag-lunch sessions, or safety training sessions.
The League of American Bicyclists certifies experienced cyclists to provide instruction after they complete a road safety course and the League's BikeEd Instructor Certification Seminar. Houston has more new instructors who have pursued certification and volunteer their time to instruct and maintain their certification. Visit the League of American Bicyclists to learn about the League and their certified instructor course..
Video Education
Students scout the area for optimum shot locations |
In a joint effort with the Houston Community College Broadcast and Technology Program, the Houston Bikeway Program has formed a partnership to develop education videos to promote the Houston Bikeway Network and to deliver a safety and awareness message in the community. With the efforts of the Broadcast and Technology Department Chair, HCC students and the Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator, three video programs are under development: A Program Overview, A series of public service announcements for broadcast by the local media, and a Video Tour to highlight a 16-mile tour along on-street and off-street bikeways while featuring safety tips.
Edu-Modules
Know your equipment. Do a bike check |
Edu-Modules The Houston Bikeway Program is developing education modules to deliver a 3-minute web based video message delivering safety tips. Under the name of Edu-Modules, these safety tips will teach kids and adults to fit a helmet, check a bike for safety, recognize road signs, learn proper signals, and recognize a Shared Lane. More Edu-Modules will be developed in the future. Let us know if you have a particular interest in a specific subject.
Internship Programs
In a partnership with Houston Community College and Texas Southern University, the Houston Bikeway Program piloted a part-time internship program. The program provided students a hands-on opportunity to obtain real work experience while applying their learned skills in the areas of transportation planning and geographic information systems. This one-year program allowed participants to help develop sound recommendations to assist in the development of future projects and strategies. Find out more about other internship opportunities in the Public Works and Engineering Department.
Other Options for Education
Ready for a practice run |
The SuperCyslist Program trains teachers to host a bicycle safety event at school. The Texas Bicycle Coalition has funding to teach the course. Local instructors can provide teachers with what they need through a workshop that also offers continuing education credits. Are you a school district representative, a Scout organization leader, or Sunday School director and want more information? Contact the Texas Bicycle Coalition:
