League Cycling Instructor Seminar With Bike Cleveland

It’s always great to see another group of League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) join the movement to build a safe, inclusive and accessible Bicycle Friendly America for everyone! And after a year with few in-person LCI Seminars, it has been wonderful over the summer to see many safe, outdoor, in-person seminars begin to take place once again. In early July, our friends at Bike Cleveland hosted one of many League Cycling Instructor Certification Seminars happening across the country. 

Under the leadership of League Cycling Coach Neil Walker and site facilitator (and LCI) Deltrece Daniels, 14 participants spent three days in Cleveland, Ohio, learning about how to teach bicycle safety using the League’s Smart Cycling curriculum. 

“Many of the people who were signed up in the class were already very much involved in their community and that made for even more interesting discussions,” Neil Walker told the League. “People build connections through these conversations and are even able to reach audiences they’ve never been able to reach before.”

Many seminar participants, including Neil, recalled moving conversations over the course of the weekend where advocates, those working in transportation, and neighborhood cycling enthusiasts learned from one another and discussed how to be better educators. 

Learning from one another is a part of LCI training and participants must put together presentations on pre-assigned cycling topics to share with the class, which is site facilitator Deltrece’s favorite part of the seminar. 

“As a Cleveland resident, I knew most of the participants prior to the seminar but it was nice to see them in a different light beyond bike rides,” said Deltrece. “During a seminar, students get the opportunity to share with others what they’ve learned and we can all usually walk away having learned something new.”

In an effort to ensure more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) people have the opportunity to join these spaces and become League Cycling Instructors, the League partners with Rebecca Rusch’s Be Good Foundation to offer scholarships that cover the cost of registration for an LCI Seminar for aspiring BIPOCbike educators. The League also partners with Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) to host LCI Seminars specifically for BIPOC in select communities. 

Attending the Cleveland LCI seminar were five (three full and two partial) recipients of our LCI Seminar Equity Scholarship thanks to the Be Good Foundation. Read below to find out more from this seminar’s scholarship recipients and find out more about the scholarships at bikeleague.org/content/bipoc-lci-scholarships.

Ebony Hood

Ebony Hood is a Cleveland native with over 20 years of experience in grassroots community organizing and is dedicated to changing the narrative by creating culturally relevant and evidence-based programming for transformative education and learning in urban communities. She works at Syatt, a Mother-Daughter led organization advocating for nature equity. Ebony holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Sustainability and a Master’s in Education which drives her desire to advocate for environmental justice and her passion to connect others to the natural world.

What inspired you to become an LCI?

SAFETY!!!! As I child, I was taught to ride a bike and to either stay out of the street or be careful crossing it. Ha! Today, it is so rewarding to teach adults and youth about safely navigating our busy city and heavily used trails. 

What was your favorite part of the seminar?

When we all gave a standing ovation to Coach Neil. There was a STRONG synergy in the room and we were all excited to celebrate as a cohort with Neil leading the charge! It was truly a feel-good moment and such a notable pleasure to have so many people of color represented in the room with the help of Bike Cleveland staff (Deltrece and Jacob) and fellow LCI Diana bringing it all together.

What do you hope to achieve with your LCI certification?

I run a grassroots org with my mom and sister, Syatt, and plan to include the knowledge and skills learned in class in everything that we do including hosting rodeos and learn-to-ride sessions. I’ve always considered myself the bike-whisperer (LoL), teaching never-evers how to ride bikes! Our long-term goal is to host distant overnight bike excursions with youth.

Deidre McPherson

Deidre McPherson is a community advocate and creative producer that loves to ride with cyclists of all skill levels. She serves on the board of Bike Cleveland as co-chair of their Race, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and she volunteers as a Squad member of Slow Roll Cleveland and with DevahD Cycling. 

What inspired you to become an LCI?

I decided to become an LCI because I want to share the joy of cycling with people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities. As an LCI, I have the credentials to help cyclists ride confidently and safely. I can also help drivers learn how to share the road with cyclists, which is important to me. I especially want to help change the perception that a cyclist is someone who rides a bike in spandex. A cyclist is anyone who rides a bike! 

What was your favorite part of the seminar?

My favorite part of the seminar was the instructor, Neil Walker. He was incredibly knowledgeable and he shared lots of inspiring stories with us.

What do you hope to achieve with your LCI certification?

I’d like to help Greater Cleveland. There are many people who need help getting into cycling as a sport, alternative mode of transportation, or fun activity, and I am excited to offer that support as a member of the community.

Ilyana Walker

My name is Ilyana Walker and I reside in Cleveland, Ohio. I enjoyed riding bikes as a kid like most people. After a long hiatus, I started back riding consistently around 2006 for the sole purpose of fitness.  One night, I saw a large group of people riding at night with their bikes lit up and immediately knew I needed to find that group. After connecting with them, I began to connect with other bike groups. In 2016, I bought my first road bike and that was when I transitioned from riding just for fun to riding for pure and unadulterated enjoyment.

What inspired you to become an LCI?

I found myself talking a lot about bikes and wanting others to experience the joy of riding. I co-founded a group five years ago that commemorates the now national holiday of Juneteenth through bike tours. I also joined a community group that is now a chapter of Bike Cleveland whose mission is to educate and promote safe cycling in the community. I decided that I wanted to become an LCI in order to provide proper education and develop the skills to assist others to become more confident with riding.

What was your favorite part of the seminar?

My favorite part of the seminar was the hands-on skills tests. I did not realize that I would be so excited about getting my LCI certification. After receiving my certificate, it was at that moment that I knew that I was equipped to promote safe and enjoyable riding. I am very proud of the fact that I am now an LCI. 

What do you hope to achieve with your LCI certification?

I want to encourage new riders as well as encourage those who have not been on a bike in a while to get back on the saddle. 

Raymond Weeden

Hello, I am Raymond A Weeden Sr. I’m happily retired from full-time work and now consider myself a full-time avid bicyclist. In addition to cycling, I currently serve as a Councilman in the Village of Walton Hills Ohio, and lead a three-generation cycling family.

What inspired you to become an LCI? 

In the community where I live, I’m known as the cycling guy. On occasion, I am asked for cycling and safety advice. I decided I needed to be able to answer intelligently and decided to take the training to become an LCI. I’m looking forward to providing training for all age groups of bicyclists in my community. 

What was your favorite part of the seminar?

My favorite part of the training was the comraderie and team-building I experienced amongst the LCI candidates. Preparation for the joint presentation assignments really pulled people out of their comfort zones and built community!

What do you hope to achieve with your LCI certification?

With my certification, I hope to be able to establish a safe Seniors Cycling group in my community and provide the skills for the seniors to roll on into our Golden Years!