Introduction to ride marshal/ride assistant: Forest Gate Library

Frames of Mind, a Stratford based arts organisation have devised ‘Full Cycle’, a QR bike trail exploring the fascinating cycling heritage of Forest Gate, in East London. With ‘Share The Joy’ funding Frames of Mind aims to attract new riders to participate in the Full Cycle bike trail, building confidence to ride on cycle safe roads, whilst having fun. As part of the funding LCC Ride Marshal training is available to residents who’d like to support Full Cycle and other local community focused rides. All welcome.

This course is an introduction to the role of Ride Marshal, sometimes also known as Ride Assistant, with London Cycling Campaign.

Local LCC groups run a number of different types of led-rides such as:

• family rides/community rides aimed at new and returning cyclists, these are mostly in the local neighbourhood and link up green spaces, quiet ways and popular places and activate new cycling infrastructure (typically 6-20 people)
• protest and campaigning rides aimed at drawing attention to a particular campaign or infrastructure need (anywhere from a dozen to 1000 people)
• health and leisure rides mostly for social, leisure and sightseeing, often for more confident cyclists and popular with regular attendees (typically 6-20 people)
• feeder rides which can be quite big and complex and travel in from the local borough to events in the centre of London such as the LCC Women’s Freedom Ride and FreeCycle. (typically 20-60 people but can be upwards of 200)

This course is intended as an introduction for people who would like to get more involved with rides in their local group or with other groups around London. It is also a refresher course for people who are already helping or running rides. It is open to anyone who is considering volunteering as a Ride Marshal with LCC or another community cycling group and is suitable for cyclists who are confident riding on the road.

There are two parts to the course.

Part 1: ‘Classroom’

You will learn riding techniques to mitigate risk and support a ride in different scenarios.

You will explore the theory behind a ride leaders role and other roles in a group ride and techniques for keeping groups safe.

Part 2: On the road

You will then apply the learning from part 1 to an on-road scenario, taking it turns to take on different roles within the group ride.

This day will be engaging, fun and empowering.

You need:

• Your own bike (in working order) and lock
• Some snacks
• To take all your belongings with you – once the ‘classroom’ session is finished, the group will leave the classroom and won’t return
• Weather appropriate clothes
• To arrive on time

You should:

• Be confident riding and controlling your bike in challenging traffic conditions
• Be confident riding one-handed and also maneuvering obstacles etc
• Be confident or be able to become confident in using maps or online maps to route plan

The instructors will provide tabards for the practical session.

NB: Please arrive on time!