Date
:
My name is Mark
Horowitz, and bicycle safety is my business. It is my job as the
Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator for the Broward Metropolitian Planning
Organization to make Broward County Florida a safer place to ride
a bicycle. To be quite frank it is a daunting undertaking. Working
with the engineers to build more and better bicycle facilties
we have seen bicycle/motor vehicle crashes decline from over 1000
in 1991 to around 500 in 2002. We've been holding at this level
since then. I attribute this dramatic decline in crashes to the
increase in bicycle facilities which has lead to less sidewalk
riding.
One
thing I have always said is that
we can build safe roads and bicycle facilities but, if people
don't know how to use they won't be safe.
As a bicycle safety
professional I have had the opportunity to review thousands of
pages of testimony from people involved in bicycle crashes as
well as hundreds of bicycle crash reports. One thing that stands
out is that even with improved facilities 60% of all bicycle crashes are from
an error caused by bicyclists.
As part of my job
I have to observe how and where bicyclists ride. My observations
have me convinced that the average person on a bicycle is unaware
of the traffic conditions and other hazards that could lead to
personal injury or even death. They casually go along not even
aware of the narrow escapes they have had with motor vehicles.
They continue along their merry way with only luck keeping them
out of the hospital. They are crashes waiting to happen and based
on the statistics it will happen.
My observations were validated
by a study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The study found
“...
many of the bicycle-related injuries and deaths every year are
related to what the rider does and how the rider interacts with
environmental factors. Riding practices that are risky, that reflect
poor riding judgment, or that fail to account for environmental
conditions, play a major role in injury and fatality scenarios...
Training
courses should also include some basic information on how to maintain
bicycles in good working order. '
What I discovered
early in my career is that bicycling courses needed to be made
available so people can learn where crashes happen, how to avoid
them, and how to maintain and safely use their bicycle.I knew
I had to teach people how to ride a bike in and around traffic;
so I became trained and certified as an instructor.
As
I taught classes I came to realize two things. Even thogugh the
course was developed for novice and intermediate bicyclists
there many club level bicyclists that lack some of the skills
taught in this course. They knew the class lecture material but
had difficulty with the bicycle handling skills and crash avoidance
techniques. Second teaching two or three courses a year may make
feel good but it wasn't getting the information to enough
people. There had to be better way to get the needed bicycle safety
information in the hands of those who need it.
What are your
chances of crashing?
Do not become a crash statistic
Learn what mistakes bicyclists and motorists make!
It is estimated
that only about ten percent of bicycle crashes are reported.
The National Highway
Transportation Safety Administration's “Traffic Safety Facts
2008”
In
2008, 716 people on bicycles were killed in crashes with motor
vehicles.
In
2008, 52,000 people on bicycles were injured with injured in crashes
with motor vehicles.
in
2007, 701 people on bicycles were killed in crashes with motor
vehicles.
In
2007, 43,000 people on bicycles were injured with injured in crashes
with motor vehicles
Other
studies conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission have
shown bicycle related hospital emergency room visits to over 580,000
per year
According to the Federal Highway Administration,
report “Bicycle Safety Related Research Synthesis”,
“Several
studies have found that most crashes were primarily due to
human error and very few were due to environmental factors”
Nationally, police reported one or
more bicyclist’s errors that may have contributed to 64.6
percent of the bicycle/motor vehicle fatalities in 1991”.
“Bicyclist
safety can be significantly compromised by motorist behavior…
factors includes motorist inexperience, fatigue, night vision
impairment, and failure to search for non-motorized traffic.”
Learn
what you need to
prevent head and face injuries!
According to the
Consumer Product Safety Commission study”Bicycle
Use and Hazard Patterns in the United States”
“…
about 69 percent of the head/face injuries were lacerations, contusions,
and abrasions, relatively minor diagnoses. However, about 27 percent
were reported to be potentially serious injuries such as fractures,
internal injuries, and concussions. …
…Injuries
to the arm/hand area tended to be lacerations, contusions or abrasions
(42 percent), and fractures (40 percent). Injuries to the leg/foot
area were primarily lacerations, contusions, and abrasions (72
percent). …
You
will learn what these people wished they knew before they crashed.
You will have the knowledge to be able to avoid the injuries,
as well as, the time off from work to recover from your injuries
Even an proficient
bicyclist such as myself can be involved in a crash. The difference
isI know how to avoid serious injury. After close to forty years
of bicycling I have only had one crash with a left turning car.
At the last minute, I made my emergency turn. I had no injuries
except some minor bruising. I cracked my helmet and dented the
car with my brake hood. This course will teach you how to execute this
life saving emergency maneuver.
Do
not be just a person a bike
become a bicyclist!
Learn
from Someone Else's Experience
As the bicycle program
Coordinator for Broward County, Florida, the fifth largest metropolitan
area in the country it is my responsibility to develop programs
that will reduce injuries and fatalities to bicyclists.
In 1987, I began developing bicycle
safety programs to decrease the number bicycle/motor vehicle crashes
and bicyclist fatalities. Since 1987, there has been a
forty- percent reduction in bicycle/motor vehicle crashes and
a fifty percent reduction in fatalities.
As a trainer for
the Florida Traffic Safety Education Program I was a member of
the team that wrote the Florida Dept. of Transportation's bicycle
safety curriculum, which is used throughout Florida and has been
copied nationwide.
I have been tested
and certified as a bicycling instructor by the League of American
Bicyclist. I have taught thousands of children and hundreds of
adults bicycle safety. Most recently, I wrote and produced the
award winning driver/bicycle education video "Everyone has a Story:
Road Sharing Tips for Bicyclists and Motorists"
Testimonials
"Learning
to ride a bicycle correctly is as important as learning to drive.
The 'Learn to Bicycle Safely' program includes all the elements
that will make riding fun and safe for anyone. Following these
videos will give you the information you need to cycle with confidence.
You won't win the Tour de France but you will be able to use your
bicycle to save money, stay healthy, and get around safely."
David
Henderson, Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator
Miami-Dade
MPO
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Mark,
the DVD & the on line test where great. After many miles and
hazards along the way you have pointed me in a simple common sense
direction. Hope that all folks needing a basic course will start
with you. As most things are common sense you have pointed out
the uncommon. Tailwinds to you. Your production skills on a roadway
are unmatched.
Thanks
Robert C.
Code
Enforcement Officer, College Park Maryland
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"I
am enjoying the course so far and my wife is looking forward to
the reading and viewing the material next. We are getting into
riding for the health benefits and have been away from our bikes
for a few years other than some occasional riding over the past
several years. Like many people I can honestly say we where never
taught proper riding techniques so we decided it was time to learn
things the right way." Tom G. MA
Like
you, when I first started venturing further from home I was
intimidated by the more complex traffic situations I encountered.
My lack of skills prevented me from going where I wanted. Overtime,
I acquired the skills needed to bicycle safely and confidently
anywhere I wanted. I learned where the crashes happen and what
to look for to see if a crash is likley. I learned how and where
to postion myself to greatly increase the motorists abilty
to see me. This body of knowledge took years and thousands
of miles to acquire. This course will save you from the anxiety
of not knowing how to handle complex traffic situations and
increase you abilty to go where you want confidently and safely.
-
You
will be able to identify the best and safest way for you to
negotiate traffic and truly enjoy your bike ride.
-
You will be able to recognize hazardous situations that you
never realized existed. You will be a safer bicyclist.
-
You
will learn how to select the equipment you need to enjoy bicycling.
-
You
will see hidden hazards and how they increase the dangers
of riding on the sidewalk and the chances of being hit by
car.
-
You
will learn bicycle-handling skills that can keep you from
hitting the pavement or a car.
-
You
will learn indispensable information on the most important
traffic skill; how to select safest position in the road.
-
You
will gain vital information on how to do emergency maneuvers
that could save you life.
-
You
will learn what you need to be comfortable doing simple roadside
repairs and keep your bike in safe working order.
-
You
will find the information you are looking for on riding a
bicycle safely in one spot.
-
You
will learn basic maintenance to keep your bicycle running
smoothly.
Take
the Mystery Out of Selecting the Equipment
That is Right for You
While
riding a bicycle is a reltively safe activity it is not an activity
without risks. Even if you don’t fall or crash ill fitting
equipment and clothing can lead to injuries.
- Learn
how to decide what type of bicycle is right for you.
- Learn
how to determine if the bicycle is the right size and how
to adjust it so you do not get knee, neck or shoulder pain.
- Learn
from an expert how to fit a bicycle helmet and how to keep
it adjusted so that it stays on when you need it.
- Learn
what other protective equipment you will want to have when
you ride a bike.
- Learn
what tools you need to maintain your bicycle
Learn
eye-opening information
on where and how crashes happen and most
importantly how to avoid them
Unfortunately,
most adults are riding bicycles using the same skills and advice
they received when they were kids riding around the neighborhood.
Stay away from cars, stay on sidewalk, and use hand signals.
What worked then, won’t work now. Once you leave your
neighborhood streets the traffic gets more complex, road conditions
vary and the variety of crashes you are exposed to increases.
The time and road tested information you will acquire is a prerequisite
to safe bicycling. Knowledge is power and you will have the
power to be more in control on your bicycle than ever before
- You
will learn what type crash with a motor
vehicle occurs whether you are riding on the sidewalk
or the street.
- You
will learn why it is more difficult to ride on the sidewalk
than in the street.
- You
will learn the one tip that can reduce the chance of getting
hit by car by approximately to thirty percent and what you
can do to reduce it by approximately another fifteen percent.
- You
will gain valuable insight into the most common crashes adult
bicyclists are involved in and how you can avoid them.
- You
will learn two ways make a left turn while on a bike.
- You
will be able to ride your bicycle defensively.
- You
will learn how to effectively handle surface hazards so you
don’t hit the pavement.
- You
will learn valuable emergency maneuvers that can save you
from serious injury or worse.
Mistakes
happen
know how to minimize or avoid impact
Sometimes no matter
what you do, someone does something stupid and you
have to react. If you do not know how to react, the consequences
can be dire. It can mean the difference between going
through a windshield and completely avoiding the crash
Do
not become a crash statistic.
Save
yourself hundreds of hours and thousands of miles
of bicycling to become a safe bicyclist.
Obtaining knowledge
can be done by either first hand experience or following in
the footsteps of those who have already been there. As you know,
bicycling is not an activity without risks and it makes common
sense to minimize your risks.
You could
spend hours searching the Internet for information and spend
your time in the saddle trying to figure out what is the safest
thing to do at an intersection but you don't need to. I have
taken the time to write compile and produce videos to create
the first self-study bicycle safety course. You will not only
get life saving information, but also a first person perspective
of riding through traffic.
This
self-study course will let you develop your skills at your own
pace. You will not be forced into traffic situations that will
intimidate you. As part of the course, you will have access
to me via e-mail to answer your questions.
As
a consultant, I am paid $175.00/hour for my knowledge and opinions.
As an instructor, I get $400-$500/class and class sizes are
limited. For this Internet offiering I am making the course
available either online or on DVD.
Normally the online version of this course sells for $29.95.
However for a limited time you will receive
immediate access to the course and bonus offers two, three and
four described below. A total value $80.80. for
$24.95
Normally,
I sell the high resolution DVD alone for $39.95, but for
this Internet offering I am offering the course and the four
bonuses below for the low price of $39.95: A $135.70 value.
BONUS
#1
VALUE: $29.95 FREE
Access
to the downloadable version of the course so you can
get started right now
BONUS
#2
VALUE: $19.95 FREE
Access
to the downloadable version of "Bicycling is More the Balance";
the course text that complements to video course.
BONUS
#3
VALUE: 15.95 FREE
Special Report: Tips on how to organize a bike rodeo. Find
out what you need to bring bicycle safety to your community.
BONUS
#4
VALUE: 19.95 FREE
Special
Report: An interactive listing of the on-line bike maps in the
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia
90
day risk free guarantee!
I am so sure you
will be satisfied with your self-study course that If for any
reason in the next 90 days, you are not satisfied with your
purchase you will get your money back no questions ask.
These
offers are for a limited time only: You can get the online version
of the course video, immediate
access to the 48 page e-book
”Bicycling is More than Balance”,and
the special reports, and $80.80 value for only $24.95
or
the course
in high resolution on DVD, immediate access to the 48 page e-book
”Bicycling is More than Balance”, online access
to the course video and all the bonuses mentioned above, A $135.70 value
for only $39.95 or the course on high
resolution DVD for $21.97
Satisfy your desire
to learn and improve your bicycle safety skills.
To
order the online version of the course and the download the
e-book Bicycling is More than Balance, get immediate access
to the online videos and the special reports, click on the button
below.
$24.95
For a limited time you can order the course DVD only for $21.97
click on the button below.
$21.97
Certifcate of Completion
Regardless
of which version you purchase you may want to get a Certificate
of Completion. If you are a taking the course for work you will
need a certificate of completion to satisify your risk manager.
Even if you don't need it for work, it is good to have a certificate
in your records. If you do get into a crash and it goes to court,
one of the first questions you will be asked is "Have you
taken a bicycle safety course?" This certificate will serve
as your proof that you have recieved training from Leage of American
Bicyclist certifed instructor.
For
an additional $15.00 you will have access to an online thirty
question test on the information presented in the videos and the
e-book "Bicycling is More Than Balance" You will see
the results of your test immediately. After receiving notification
that you have completed the test. I will send you your signed
certificate of completion.
Bicycling
is an activity that has brought me many hours of joy, a great
sense of independence, and many personal bests. It is my hope
that after taking this course you too will truly discover what
bicycling can do for you.
Tailwinds,
Mark
Horowitz
Certified Cycling Instructor LCI 371
PS
- Get
more than two and a half hours of vidoe based training on bicycling.
- Learn
to safely ride a bicycle from an experienced bicycle safet professional
- Obtain
eye opening information on where and how crashes happen and
how to avoid them.
- Take
the mystery out of selecting the equipment that is right for
you.
- Mistakes
happen; know how to minimize their effect and avoid impact
- Save
yourself hundreds of hours and thousands of miles to beome a
safe bicyclist.
PPS
Remember these offers are for a limited time only.