Bicyclists to build their street smarts

BROOKINGS – Later this month, Michael Christensen of Sioux Falls is coming to Brookings to instruct a fast-paced course on how to navigate traffic safely and legally from the seat of a bicycle.

Attendees of the Sept. 15 class here will also learn to conduct bicycle safety checks, how to fix a flat, and crash avoidance techniques. Adults and children above age 14 are encouraged to register.

The course will take place Saturday, Sept. 15, at the First Lutheran Church in Brookings. Lunch will be provided during the eight-hour session, which runs from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The course also teaches some skills for when bicyclists find themselves behind the wheel of a car. "After I took this course, I became a much safer motorist – started looking for bicycles in a way I had never done before," says Sherry Oswald, a Brookings resident and businesswoman who is helping host the event.

Local members of Dakota Rural Action are organizing the event. One goal of the group is to promote the use of bicycles as transportation and bicycle safety in Brookings.

Pre-registration for the course is $30. Participants will receive a traffic skills booklet and tire levers, which have been donated by Sioux River Bicycles and Fitness.

Attendees must bring their own bikes and helmets. Interested parties can register online at dakotarural.org/ts101 or by calling 697-5204.