With the efforts of improving our bicycle infrastructure with increased miles (Hooray!) we need free/low cost bicycle transportation education for all ages. Look at private-public partnerships to start program and identify and help pay for individuals to become certified instructors. Downtown we have an issue of a lack of good (and legal) examples being set for proper bicycle riding. Too often the security staff on bikes are riding on sidewalks when there are bike lanes and routes, ignoring stop lights, and seen riding against traffic. Breaking the law does not set a good example to those wanting to ride downtown safely. Do we need a city ordinance to ban sidewalk riding downtown? Debatable, but good, safe, and legal examples of proper riding is essential to improving how bikes are viewed in downtown.

From Bike Fort Worth: Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. That means you have the right to ride on any roadway (unless prohibited by a specific local ordinance), and you have to follow all the same traffic laws as motorists. You must ride in the same direction as traffic. (Sec. 551.101)

The new initiative and partnership between first responders, medical students and ice cream producers to get helmets on the spot to those riding that are under 18 and not wearing a helmet is a great start. We need good, safe, and legal examples of proper riding and free/low cost bicycle transportation education. Simply knowing how to ride a bike is not the same as knowing how to operate a bike safely and legally.