Getting Started & FAQ
About the LCI Seminar
The LCI training seminar focuses on teaching and demonstration techniques used with future students both on the road and in the classroom. The seminar emphasis is on how to teach bicycle safety and skills so as to provide increased comfort and confidence for new and returning bicyclists and youth. The seminar does not emphasize the content or specific details of the cycling course curricula. It is primarily about teaching, and each candidate will have opportunities during the seminar to practice facilitating parts of the Smart Cycling curriculum, both in the classroom and in the parking lot. The seminar is normally one evening and two full days. Generally, one-third of the time is on-bike, so students should be prepared to ride. Click here to find a seminar near you.
The registration fee is $500 (effective April 2020) and includes the seminar materials. Download the LCI Seminar Description - great for submitting to an employer or for a grant.
In striving to achieve our mission of building a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone, one of our primary objectives is developing and supporting a more diverse community of League Cycling Instructors (LCI). Representation matters and people of every race, gender, gender identity, and background should be able to see themselves in the bicycling community. With the help of the Ford Motor Company Foundation, the League offers Equity Scholarships to attend a LCI Seminar. Click here to learn more and apply for the scholarship.
Steps to Becoming a League Cycling Instructor
- Check the League's Local Resources map for classes in your area.
- If you cannot locate a class, contact your local advocacy organization to see when they will be hosting their next class.
- Or try contacting a local LCI (also listed on the map) to see if they can offer you a class.
- Remember the Complete class consists of classroom instruction and on-bike handling skills. Students will be tested and graded.
- Students may substitute the classroom instruction portion with the online Smart Cycling exam at learn.bikeleague.org. Students will need to review the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced sections online and take the Smart Cycling exam.
- The on-bike instruction and exam must be completed with a current LCI.
*The Smart Cycling Complete class is sometimes referred to by its previous name: Traffic Skills 101
- Check out the seminar schedule to find a seminar near you.
- This is a three-day seminar and will require about 3 hours of preparation prior to the course.
- Registration rates increase four weeks prior to the class start date. Registration closes three weeks from the class start date.
- This is an intense three days of learning about how to teach the Smart Cycling curriculum.
- All candidates must attend the entire seminar.
- Registration does not guarantee certification, but everyone will come away with increased knowledge about how to instruct others about bicycling safety. You will eventually earn certification if you put in the effort and time.
FAQ: What Do I Need To Know About Becoming An LCI?
The LCI training seminar focuses on teaching and demonstration techniques you will use with your future students both on-bike and in the classroom. The seminar's emphasis is on how to teach bicycle safety and skills to new and returning bicyclists and youth. The Seminar is primarily about teaching, and each candidate will have opportunities during the seminar to practice facilitating. You will receive a detailed Seminar agenda from your Site Facilitator or Seminar Coach. Please address specific questions about meals and breaks, lodging, equipment, and other logistics to the Site Facilitator. Generally, one-third of your time at the Seminar is on-bike, so come prepared to ride.
If you are an experienced and knowledgeable bicyclist who desires to make cycling safe and accessible for others, you are on the right track.
Completing a Smart Cycling Complete course (formerly called Traffic Skills 101) is a prerequisite for attending a seminar. You can complete the entire Smart Cycling class with an LCI or the in-classroom portion at bikeed.org – please note that you will still need to complete the on-bike portion of the class with an LCI to meet the full requirement.
In order to search for a class and/or instructor in your area, click here.
After registration, you will be required to take an open-book exam using the seminar materials. You will send the exam answers to your coach, who will use the exam results to help assess your bicycling knowledge and fine-tune seminar activities accordingly. Your grade on your examination must be 85% or greater. Your coach will contact you if your score falls below 85% and provide counseling. Your coach is the final decision maker on your attendance in the seminar.
All LCIs are expected to be comfortable using a computer: steady email access is necessary prior to the seminar, electronic assignments need to be completed, and many of the learning tools available for the Smart Cycling program are electronic.
The list of upcoming Seminars, which is updated frequently, can be found here.
If you would like to host a Seminar in your area, please email the completed MOU to [email protected].
All participants of an LCI seminar must be Family or Individual members of the League. This membership must be kept current in order to work as an LCI. Become a member today.
All participants of the LCI Seminar must successfully pass the Smart Cycling Complete class (formerly called Traffic Skills 101) with an 85% or better at least one month prior to attending an LCI seminar. There is no substitute for completing this requirement. Regardless of riding experience, it is important that each candidate be a part of the curriculum prior to teaching it. Taking the class at least 1 month prior to the seminar allows a candidate time to master the drills before facilitating them to others. The Complete class consists of a classroom component and an on-bike component.
As an LCI you are certified to teach the League’s Smart Cycling curriculum including:
- Smart Cycling (formerly called Traffic Skills 101)
- Group Riding
- Bicycling 123 Youth
- Learn to Ride Youth
- Learn to Ride Adult
- Bicycle Friendly Driver
LCIs are empowered to tailor curriculum components to suit their audience, all classes must incorporate the Need-to-Know.
The League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Certification Seminar registration fee of $500 covers:
- 23 hours of instruction, exercises and practice teaching both in the classroom and on the bike, usually during the course of a single weekend beginning on a Friday evening and ending on a Sunday afternoon
- League Cycling Instructor Manual with curricula and support material for teaching classes to adults and children
- All Smart Cycling Curricula Manuals: Bicycling 123 Youth, Learn to Ride Youth, Learn to Ride Adult, Group Riding Student, Group Riding Adult, and Smart Cycling.
- One year of coverage under the League’s individual liability insurance for LCIs, renewable each year for the maintenance fee of $25
- Access to the LCI Online Group where instructors discuss teaching issues and techniques
- Listing in the League’s national website database of instructors
- Online course postings on the League’s website
Registration can be done quickly and easily online. Click here.
Seminar preparation materials will be sent to you via email. Become familiar with your seminar materials prior to starting the Assessment. Your seminar Coach will contact you with details on how to submit your assessment answers. A detailed Seminar agenda will come from your Site Facilitator or Seminar Coach. Please address specific questions about meals and breaks, lodging, equipment and other logistics to the Site Facilitator. Questions about your registration or membership should go to [email protected]
The Assessment is open-book, so you can use the study materials to complete it. We expect students to complete it within 1- 3 hours.
With the help of the Ford Motor Company Foundation, the League offers Equity Scholarships to attend a LCI Seminar. Click here to apply for a scholarship.
Deadlines for registration are set in order to help you get the Pre-Seminar materials in a timely way to allow plenty of time to fill out the Assessment and send it to your Seminar Coach. If you miss the deadline, contact the League. If registration is within 28 days of the seminar, there will be a $75 late fee.
The Seminar Coach may feel that you are not ready for certification at the time of your training. The Coach may recommend that you do remedial coursework with a specific LCI or other instructor. Once that instructor helps you fill the specific remedial requirements, they will notify your Coach, who will notify the League, and you will be eligible for certification. A Coach may also recommend that you attend a future Seminar. In that event, you will be entitled to attend a future Seminar at no cost.
In order to maintain your LCI certification, you will be required to complete 12 hours of continuing education each year. Continuing education credits will be given for classes you teach and any involvement you have with bicycling. A full list of requirements will be given to you at the completion of your training. Each class you teach must be pre-announced to the League via the League’s online database, to which you will receive a password for access. After the class, course paperwork must be sent to the League. Copies of the Class Roster, Sign-in Sheet, Course Feedback Forms and Registration forms/ signed and dated waivers must be sent to the League. All of the forms/information should be sent electronically if possible. In order for you to be covered by the League’s insurance, you must follow all the League policies for teaching Smart Cycling courses. You are also required to maintain membership with the League and submit an annual renewal fee of $25 to keep your certification current.
All participants must be 18 or older, due to our insurance policy.
Click here for the pdf: LCI Code of Ethics
As a League Cycling Instructor, I accept the responsibilities and obligations inherent in providing quality instructor services. Basic to these ethical beliefs, I agree to abide by.
TO FOLLOW through on all classes assigned to me, including teaching the complete curriculum for each League of American Bicyclists course or component, completing required records in a timely and accurate manner and providing appropriate League of American Bicyclists course certificates or other recognition to participants.
TO USE the League of American Bicyclists’ materials and resources in proper and authorized manners.
TO ASSUME responsibility for the safety of students and others who have been put in my care.
TO ADHERE to the mission and policies of the League when acting as a League Cycling Instructor.
TO RESPECT everyone with the same respect I expect for myself. The same honesty will extend to my handling of bicycling qualifications, certifications, assessment of students' abilities, and any circumstances that might exhibit potential for conflicts of interest. This includes respecting a person's personal and emotional space.
TO IDENTIFY myself as a League of American Bicyclists instructor and the course materials as those of the League of American Bicyclists.
TO RECOGNIZE that this certification remains in effect as long as my authorization is maintained with the League of American Bicyclists.
TO TREAT people fairly without regard to race, sex, religion, age, disability, or national origin.
TO SET set aside conflicts between me and students or others, within the context of carrying out my professional responsibilities.
TO STRIVE for excellence in bicycling by maintaining and enhancing my own knowledge and skills.
As a League Cycling Instructor, I assume the full responsibilities of this Code of Ethics and am aware that these responsibilities are a part of my obligation as a League Cycling Instructor. I pledge my support to these Code of Ethics.
I understand that failing to uphold the above stated Code of Ethics could result in the termination of my LCI number by the League of American Bicyclists.
The cancellation policy applies to all registrations whether it is being paid by an individual or by an organization. All cancellation and transfer requests must be sent via email to [email protected].
- Cancellations made within three weeks of the first day of the seminar do not qualify for a refund. The registration may be transferred to another seminar within 18 months. The transfer will be subject to a $75 administrative fee.
- A cancellation made more than three weeks before the first day of the seminar is fully refundable minus a $75 administrative fee.
- A candidate may transfer their registration to another seminar prior to the registration close date free of charge.
- A candidate will be given a free transfer to another seminar or opt for a 50% refund if they cannot attend the seminar due to health reasons.
- Cancellations due to non-health related reasons made within three weeks of the seminar will be offered a transfer and will be subject to an administrative fee of $75. Transfers must be redeemed within 18 months of the registered seminar.
- A full refund or a free transfer will be provided for any seminar canceled due to low enrollment.
- Failure of a candidate to fulfill pre-assessment work will be considered a cancellation and will be assessed a $75 transfer fee. Transfers must be redeemed within 18 months of the registered seminar.