GTPD Hosting Free Bike Safety Class

As Georgia Tech’s bicycling community continues to grow, an ongoing challenge for bicyclists is getting from point “A” to point “B” in a safe and lawful manner.

To address this challenge, the Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) and Parking and Transportation Services are teaming up to teach a four-hour class on bicycle safety that will address such topics as how to share the road with other vehicles and pedestrians, bicycle maintenance, rules of the road and applicable traffic laws, and basic riding skills and drills

The class will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 4, at GTPD, which is located at 879 Hemphill Avenue NW. In the event of rain, the makeup date is March 11. Registration is available online at https://tinyurl.com/z2ok4zy.

The class is open to all Georgia Tech students. Preregistration is required, and students must bring their own bikes. A helmet is strongly encouraged.

“When we talk about bicycle safety, we tend to talk about motorists looking out for bikes,” said Sgt. Gary Cook, who leads GTPD’s bike patrol. “By getting on a bike, you are taking on a lot of responsibility, and this course will help you move about the campus in a safe and responsible way.”

Georgia Tech has a Bicycle Campus Master Plan designed to create a safe, healthy and positive environment on campus for bicycling, and Parking and Transportation Services has a robust bicycle commuting program that encourages more students, faculty and staff to use bicycles as a way to get to the campus.

Resources about the rules and ongoing safety enhancements are available from Parking and Transportation Services, GTPD and the Bicycle Infrastructure Improvement Committee.

“Parking and Transportation appreciates that GTPD is now certified to offer these classes, and we’ll be working with them to hold additional ones in the future," said Lisa Safstrom, Georgia Tech's campus transportation planner. "This is a great opportunity to help make the campus safer for people on bikes.”