League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) are bicycle ambassadors certified through the League of American Bicyclists who help make bicycling better in their communities through education efforts.

After earning certification through a three-day LCI Seminar, LCIs can teach a variety of Smart Cycling classes to people of any age, helping them feel more confident and secure about riding. Whether they teach as individuals or as part of a local bicycling or recreation organization, LCIs can educate people who bike and drive on how to safely and legally share the road.

At SVBC, we believe that education is one of the ways we remove barriers to biking. For this reason we are excited to host an LCI Seminar to certify additional LCIs and expand bike education in the region. This Seminar, including available scholarships, is funded by Commute.org, C/CAG (City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County), and Measure A/W funds from the TA (Transportation Authority) as well as Stanford Transportation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The LCI training seminar focuses on teaching and demonstration techniques you will use with future students both on-bike and in the classroom. Candidates are expected to already be familiar with the Smart Cycling curriculum. Therefore, the seminar's emphasis is less on the course content and more on how to teach bicycle safety and skills to new and returning bicyclists in such a way to build their comfort and confidence. 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. A detailed Seminar agenda will be provided by the Site Facilitator or Seminar Coach. Generally, one-third of the time at the Seminar is on-bike, so candidates should come prepared to ride.
You don’t have to be an athlete or overachieving student to be an amazing LCI. If you have the conviction that life is better for everyone when more people ride bikes, we encourage you to apply.
Priority will be given to applicants from San Mateo County, Stanford University affiliates, and those who have been traditionally underrepresented in the bicycling space. We especially encourage people who are fluent in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese, to apply.
All applicants must complete the following prerequisites to qualify for the LCI Seminar:
1. Successfully pass the Smart Cycling written exam with a score above 85%
  We encourage applicants to take one of SVBC’s Smart Cycling Part 1 classes to prepare for the exam. The written exam will also be given to students who request it at one of our Smart Cycling Part 2 (on-bike) classes.
2. Successfully pass the Smart Cycling on-bike exam with a score above 85%
  This must be completed with a current LCI. We recommend participating in a Smart Cycling Part 2 (on-bike) class with SVBC or with another regional bike coalition like San Francisco Bicycle Coalition or Bike East Bay. Be sure to communicate with the instructors that you are taking the class to apply for the LCI Seminar since they will need to grade you.
See our schedule of upcoming classes to sign up for Smart Cycling Part 1 and Part 2 here.
The registration fee is $550 and includes:
- 23 hours of instruction, exercises, and teaching practice both in the classroom and on the bike
- Meals and snacks provided during the Seminar
- League Cycling Instructor Manual with curricula and support material
- All Smart Cycling Curricula Manuals
- One year of coverage under the League’s individual liability insurance for LCIs, renewable each year for the maintenance fee of $35
- Additional benefits through the League
Through a grant from Commute.org, C/CAG, and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, a limited amount of $550 scholarships are available for residents of San Mateo County, and additional stipends may be available for candidates with financial hardship. These scholarships and stipends are funded by Measure A/W Funds from the TA.
Full scholarships are also available for Stanford University affiliates (faculty, staff, or students), funded by Stanford Transportation.
Please review the job posting and complete our application form here.