This page contains links to training materials and resources for bicyclists and motorists.  Be sure to see the bottom of our Clubs, Teams & Organizations tab for additional ride leader, tips for riding in groups, and organizational resources. Some of the material on our Resources tab contains links related to education and safety, as well.

Please visit our DONATE page to become a Friend of BFK — help support our educational efforts and safety programs.  Donations of any size are greatly appreciated!

Bicyclist Education & Safety

Be a Safe Cyclist – Pamphlet of safe bicycling tips – provided by the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning

Bicycle Lessons And Training – Youth Educational Sports, Inc. (YES) provides accredited School Cycling Instructor certification via online training and on-the-ground clinics – cyclists are trained in stages (level 4 to level 1) to teach school staff how to create and sustain their own school bicycle clubs. The certified SCI then provides cycling assistance to that school in the form of bicycle training and even bicycle repair.

Bike Rodeo “How To” Package – An easy to use kit for putting on a bike rodeo in the following links, courtesy of Bike Maine:
Bike Safety Rodeo Guide – Bicycle Rodeo Flyer TemplateBike Quick Check HandoutParticipant Release and Waiver (Covid Updated)Be A Safe Bike Driver HandoutBe A Safe Walker HandoutBike Rodeo Training Webinar (on YouTube)Bicycle Skills Report Card

Bike Safe – “The University of Miami BikeSafe program is an evidence-based injury prevention program focused on bicycle safety for children ages 10-14.  BikeSafe has three program missions: to reduce the number of pediatric injuries, increase physical activity, and improve the bikeability of the built environment.”

GR Driving Change – Resources including pamphlets, videos, posters and billboards presenting rules for motorists and bicyclists based on a cause-effect review of crashes in Grand Rapids, MI.

Everybody’s Road — Everybody’s Rules – Updated safety tips and relevant laws for bicyclists, with links to other sources of information – provided by the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning

MSP – Bicyclist Safety – Safety tips for drivers and bicyclists, with links to other sources of information – provided by the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning

The Legal Rights and Responsibilities of Michigan Bicyclists – This educational video covers the legal rights and responsibilities of Michigan bicyclists for law enforcement. While its intended purpose is as a “Roll Call” video for officers to view and discuss before a shift, lots of people can benefit from this brief, 10-minute overview of the laws on bicycling in Michigan.  From the League of Michigan Bicyclists

RCKC Transportation Safety Action Plan Public Engagement Center – The Road Commission of Kalamazoo County (RCKC) is developing a comprehensive transportation safety action plan with the goal of improving roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on its transportation network.

USA Cycling COVID-19 Event Resources – Resources for event organizers to help manage the risk to participants and spectators of their events.  Includes a risk assessment tool, event guidelines, a rider checklist and member survey results.

Bike Light Programs

How To Do A Successful Bike Light Program Giveaway – “… lessons learned from programs around the country” with free downloadable / printable version.  A JPEG file of the banner used by the City of Portage at its Be Bright bike light giveaway is HERE.

Bike Security

The 13 Best Bike Locks for Securing Your Ride Anywhere – from Bicycling.com.

Bike Storage Locker Locations – Kalamazoo

Example of Bike Security-Conscious Apartment – Kalamazoo

The Lock Picking Lawyer – YouTube Channel reviews and comments on a wide variety of bike locks.

Preventing Bike Theft – Advice from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office

Driving Change – Local Fact-Based Public Safety Campaign

Resources developed by Güd Marketing based on a detailed analysis conducted by the Transportation Research Center For Livable Communities at Western Michigan University.  Specific incident reports and crash data were studied and guided creative development.  Lansing-based Güd Marketing applied their knowledge gained after analyzing more some 75 bicycle safety campaigns across the country and using their experience in designing the demonstrably successful $600,000+ multi-media Driving Change campaign in Grand Rapids.  Bike Friendly Kalamazoo’s budget was vastly constrained by comparison, so was limited to on-line information and social media.

Examining the Patterns of Crashes in Kalamazoo County – Presented January 18, 2021 by WMU’s Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities; supplemented by Additional Clarification/Analysis dated February 17, 2021

5 Foot Passing Video – MP4 file – suitable for social media

Intersections Video – MP4 file – suitable for social media

Visibility Video – MP4 file – suitable for social media

Let’s Improve Our Road Relationships – web page with specific traffic safety advice with link to a downloadable tip sheet – all based on local crash analysis

Tip Sheet – downloadable one page of tips aimed at preventing most common bicyclist-involved crash types

Driving Change Campaign Report June 23, 2021 – Results of campaign funded by BFK in 2021

Driving Change Campaign Highlights December 6, 2023 – Results of campaign funded by BFK in 2023

Michigan Crash Facts – Online searchable database of crash data; results for previous year released close to end of first quarter of current year

Event Management in a COVID-19 Era

USA Cycling COVID-19 Event Resources – Resources for event organizers to help manage the risk to participants and spectators of their events.  Includes a risk assessment tool, event guidelines, a rider checklist and member survey results.

Hands-On Training

Bike Camp – Kalamazoo Bicycle Club – Orientation meeting + 4 consecutive Saturday mornings beginning in May of each year.  Children-adults.  Registration fee.

Cycling Savvy – Programs teaching how to safely ride on the road; online and in-person course offerings.

Cycle Kids – “is committed to strengthening the emotional and physical health of children by giving them the skills to lead active and healthy lifestyles, using the fun and practical skill of riding a bike.”

National Interscholastic Cycling Association – develops interscholastic mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the United States.

Open Bike Shop – Western Michigan University offers bike repair guidance, including the use of bike repair tools on Friday afternoons.   Open to the general public, as well as to WMU’s faculty, staff and students.

Open Roads Bike Program – Variety of programs and events; bicycle mechanic and social skills primarily aimed at school-aged children; some adult sessions; events throughout the year.

School Grant ProgramThe Specialized Foundation – “uses cycling as a tool for children to achieve academic, health, and social success. Through investments in primary scientific medical research and school-based cycling programs, our mission is to increase accessibility to cycling to aid youth in personal development and education.”

Lesson Plans

Bicycle Lessons And Training – Youth Educational Sports, Inc. (YES) provides accredited School Cycling Instructor certification via online training and on-the-ground clinics – cyclist are trained in stages (level 4 to level 1) to teach school staff how to create and sustain their own school bicycle clubs. The certified SCI then provides cycling assistance to that school in the form of bicycle training and even bicycle repair.

Bicycle Safety Lesson Plan – Covers navigating traffic environments safely, being safe bicyclists and remembering to “use your head, wear a helmet.”  Aimed at younger children; includes a presenter’s script covering a lesson lasting approximately 45 minutes.

Pedestrian Safety

MSP – Pedestrian Safety – Page with safety tips for drivers, pedestrians and links to other sources of information – provided by the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning

PowerPoint and Video Lessons & Presentations

Bicycle Safer Journey – Skills for safe bicycling for ages 5-18; variety of ready to use instructor-led programs for one-on-one or group training from the Federal Highway Administration.

Bicycling Safety – Quick review of safety ideas for bicyclists and motorists; 30 seconds; YouTube video produced by Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Department of State (MDOS-which most people know from the many Secretary of State offices).

Bike Commuting  –  Comprehensive look at bike commuting designed for adults; 60-90 minutes; 78 slides from the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB)

(School) Bicycle Safety Presentation – Topics including safety, rules of the road, gear and bike fitting aimed; designed for 30 minute K-4 school assembly; 20 PowerPoint slides from LMB

League of Michigan Bicyclist Videos – Link to LMB’s page of educational videos.  Topics range from legal rights and responsibilities, bike lights, hand signals, dooring, sharing sidewalks & others.

Think Bike Safety First! – Ann Arbor Police Officer Kathy Vonk, Bike Instructor for the International Police Mountain Bike Association and the League of America Bicyclist discusses safety issues for bikers; 6:48 YouTube video

Smart Cycling Videos – The League of American Bicyclists presents a series of lessons, interactive components and videos. Covers different types of bikes and bicycling gear, techniques for improving your ride, your rights as a bicyclist and how to ride safely on the road.

What Parents Need to Know About Children and Bikes – Topics including helmet fitting,  bicycle safety, ride preparation, riding skills and rules of the road; designed for PTA/group/institutional presentations to parents; 17 PowerPoint slides from LMB

Yes, there really is a … Bike Friendly Kalamazoo! – Use to construct 20-25 min “lunch n learn” presentation on key aspects of bike selection, ride preparation, safety and Bike Friendly Kalamazoo (BFK); 24 PowerPoint slides

Dutch Bicycle Parking – In the 27 min. webinar on bicycle parking we have shown you why only 25% of bicycles are placed correctly in the designated bicycle parking facilities. Our guest speaker, Ton Kooymans of the @Dutch Bicycle Parking Academy used the so-called 5C-Model to show you how to make responsible Choices. Based on the aspects: Capacity, Comfort, Cost and Control. The webinar also contained a sneak preview of the upcoming training on Bicycle Parking.

Safe Passing Yard Signs

Show your bike love!

These standard sized yard signs are available to the public at no charge, one per household, during regular hours while supplies last at the locations listed below.  We think posting these signs is one of the most cost-effective ways we know to remind the public to offer bicyclists a courteous, safe passing distance.

A number of organizations and local bike shops are making these free “Give Them 5 – Keep Them Alive” yard signs available including:

Barry Dickinson Insurance Agency Inc – 8125 Valleywood Lane; Portage, MI 49024
City of Galesburg – 200 E. Michigan Avenue; Galesburg, MI 49053
Edison Neighborhood Association – 816 Washington Av.; Kalamazoo MI 49001
Kalamazoo Dept. of Public Safety – 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy, Suite A; Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Kzoo Swift – new address coming soon Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Office of Senator Sean McCann – 3240 S. Westnedge Av.; Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Oshtemo Township Hall – 7275 W. Main St.; Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Pedal Bicycle Shop (North) – 611 W. Michigan Av.; Kalamazoo, MI 49007 and
Pedal Bicycle Shop (South) – 185 Romence Rd; Portage, MI 49024
Road Commission of Kalamazoo County – 1801 Kilgore Rd; Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Vine Neighborhood Association – 814 S. Westnedge Ave; Kalamazoo, MI 49008

If your organization would like to make them available to the public or members at no charge, please use this Google Form to let us know.

Written Material

Answers to Common Bicyclist-Motorist Myths, Misunderstandings and Misconceptions – Comprehensive FAQ sheet with extensive references; conclusions and citations may provide thought-starters for articles, investigative stories and research.

Michigan Bicycle Laws For Law Enforcement Officers – Front-back reference guide citing key Michigan laws, referencing specific statutes.  Aimed at traffic law enforcement of infractions committed by bicyclists and by bicyclists wishing to reference facts surrounding Michigan bicycle law.  Developed by the Office of Highway Safety Planning and the Michigan Department of Transportation (2021).

Michigan Traffic Safety Catalog – Catalog of a variety of materials on topics including alcohol, bicycle, motorcycle, bus, pedestrian, child passenger, teen driving, traffic seat belts and costumes – available from the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning

Michigan Laws Pertaining to Cyclists – List of key laws organized as answers to frequently asked questions by the League of Michigan Bicyclists (link down for maintenance as of 3-25-19; new link anticipated fairly soon)

Rules of the Road – Web page of six tips from the League of American Bicyclists

State of Michigan Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program Assessment – March 2018 evaluation of Michigan’s approach to pedestrian and bicycle safety, noting strengths and accomplishments, and where improvements can be made; recommendations provide a list of items for further work (Office of Highway Safety Planning)

What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know and What Every Young Michigan Bicyclist Must Know  – Informational booklets from the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB)

What Every Michigan Driver Should Know About Bicycle Lanes – Could be used by law enforcement and others as a tool to educate motorists about their responsibilities when driving around bicyclists.  Contains reminders for improving communications between bicyclists riding on the roads and motorists.  Brief orientation downloadable as a PDF file from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

What Every Driver Must Know – Michigan Secretary of State’s guide for drivers, updated to include information drivers much know about bicyclists.  Could be used as a tool to educate motorists about their responsibilities when driving around bicyclists (September 2019).  The web page HERE also contains driver’s test materials.

Please visit our Donate page if you would like to help support our educational and safety programs.  Donations of any size are greatly appreciated!