OUR MISSION

To make a difference in people’s lives by empowering them to use their bikes to go anywhere they want, safely and confidently.

OUR VISION

For our communities to be places where bicyclists are expected and respected as a normal part of traffic.

OUR GOAL

To help our communities become more livable and sustainable by promoting a civil and cooperative environment on our roads through complementary education and infrastructure design.

PEOPLE ON BIKES

Bicycling in traffic is safe and easy and does not require athleticism, speed, or bravery.

Successful bicycling does require a basic understanding of traffic dynamics and a belief in one’s equal right to the road.

Most people prefer quiet routes. Bicyclists can learn strategies to overcome common barriers to connecting quiet streets. These strategies are the focus of what we teach.

Bicycling education makes people better drivers (of any type of vehicle) by teaching an understanding of traffic dynamics that is not taught in Driver’s Ed.

Situational Awareness, Predictive Decision-Making, Problem-Solving, Communication, Cooperation, Self-Reliance & Responsibility: There are the essential underpinnings of CyclingSavvy and enhance our lives beyond successful bicycling.

PEOPLE IN CARS

Most people want to do the right thing, but many drivers don’t know the best way to interact with bicyclists: They don’t know our space requirements; they often underestimate our speed; and sometimes they overlook us.

Most crashes caused by motorist mistakes can be avoided or prevented by the bicyclist — often as simply and passively as riding in a more visible position.

Most drivers are willing to cooperate with a bicyclist who communicates.

Regardless of whether or not motorists believe bicyclists have the right to control a lane, or understand why we need to, they will change lanes to pass a lane-controlling bicyclist. That’s what matters.

Inattentive driving is a problem, but bicyclists can easily command the attention of drivers — including those who are mildly distracted — by being relevant and operating in their primary focus area.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Bicycle-specific infrastructure is valuable for both access and enjoyment, when designed properly and applied in an appropriate context.

Well-designed bicycle infrastructure is an asset to the community.

Most types of bicycle-specific infrastructure, including bike lanes and side paths, have contexts in which they work well, create access, increase comfort and benefit bicyclists. Unfortunately, some of these facilities can be very problematic when designed poorly or used in the wrong context.

Freeway-like road features can be navigated safely by educated bicyclists — we teach bicyclists these strategies. It is not possible to design edge facilities to safely guide uninformed bicyclists through such features. Freeway-like features should not be designed into surface streets that are used by bicyclists and pedestrians.

Poorly designed and implemented bicycle infrastructure creates confusion for bicyclists and motorists. It endangers the uninformed and hinders the informed.

It is our moral responsibility to teach people to recognize and deal with facilities that create confusion or conflicts. It is also our responsibility to speak out in an effort to prevent the installation of such facilities. If we don’t, who will?