Inclusive Ride Leader Training Recap
Written by Jes Slavin
August 16, 2024
On Tuesday, August 13th, MassBike hosted Jacob Sheppard-Saidel, co-leader of All Bodies on Bikes Western Massachusetts for an Inclusive Ride Leader Training! The virtual training was aimed at people who wish to organize and lead inclusive rides in their community.
Jacob has extensive experience leading rides that ensure riders of all ages and abilities feel empowered, safe, and supported. They discussed some key tips to lead a supportive "no-drop" ride that ensures all participants leave full of bike joy!
Jacob discussed why inclusive rides are important to growing the bicycling community and the life cycle of an inclusive ride. Their presentation included an overview of ride planning and preparation, what to do during the ride, and the post-ride follow-up.
Why are inclusive rides important?
The more people on bikes, the better. We all benefit from growing the number of people and diversity of people riding bikes in our communities. By increasing the number of riders, we grow our coalition of advocates who support safer roadways and will work towards a Massachusetts where people of all ages and abilities can ride safely.
A group ride can be a welcoming opening to someone who will become an avid bike rider or a deterrent to ever pick up a bike again. While there are many stories about people who caught the “bike bug” from a group ride, there are just as many people who share that attending a group ride discouraged them from getting into biking since they felt unwelcome or unsafe. By hosting inclusive rides, you can create a space where people can explore biking in a supportive environment.
Key Principles to Leading an Inclusive Ride
- Think Critically about the needs of your audience
- Work Collaboratively and continue learning
- Do not leave anyone behind
- Plan your ride with intentionality
- Communicate essential information clearly in your ride advertisements
- Bring knowledgeable and non-judgmental ride support volunteers with you
You can view the 32-minute training on our YouTube Channel. Use the links below to access the recording and the slide deck.
We encourage you to share this training with anyone you know who is interested in leading inclusive rides in your community!