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 Template – Bike Quick Check Handout – Participant Release and Waiver (Covid Updated) – Be A Safe Bike Driver Handout – Be A Safe Walker Handout – Bike 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 Program – The 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.