Respecting the Sabbath and Teaching Safer Cycling for Every Rider
By Paul Morris — Turning Point USA Feature Essay
The Physics of Riding the Wrong Way
According to the basic laws of physics, when a bicyclist rides against traffic, they increase the velocity of impact in a potential collision. This happens because the forces of two moving objects—one vehicle traveling forward and the cyclist riding toward it—combine rather than cancel out.
Even a minor crash becomes exponentially more dangerous when the closing speeds are added together. A car moving at 35 miles per hour colliding with a wrong-way cyclist traveling just 10 miles per hour creates an impact velocity of 45 miles per hour—often fatal.
Many cyclists who ride the wrong way in bike lanes or on sidewalks do not realize this fundamental truth. They aren’t reckless by nature—they’re uninformed. They may never have received any structured guidance on how to position themselves safely, signal turns, or navigate intersections with confidence.
The Mission of the League of American Bicyclists
The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) exists to bridge that knowledge gap. Its mission is to teach safe cycling practices to all audiences—not just spandex-clad enthusiasts or competitive riders, but also working people who rely on bicycles as their main form of transportation.
Through its League Cycling Instructor (LCI) certification program, the League empowers community leaders to teach these skills directly. LCIs learn how to prevent crashes, improve riding etiquette, and correct common errors—like riding against traffic or weaving on sidewalks—before those habits become dangerous.
For low-income bicycle recipients, this education can be life-changing. Any participant who completes the classroom workshop months before the three-day on-bike course should have access to an agenda and resource guide with YouTube video links demonstrating the same core skills practiced in class. This allows students to review lessons, watch examples, and understand what correct form looks like before riding under supervision.
Still, online videos can’t replace in-person feedback. Only a certified League Cycling Instructor is trained to spot subtle mistakes—like drifting too close to parked cars or misjudging turn angles—and help riders correct them safely and immediately.
Scheduling for Safety and Sabbath Respect
Currently, most LCI on-bike training sessions begin on Friday and end on Sunday, spanning three consecutive days. For many, the Sunday requirement creates a significant barrier.
Participants who value Sabbath worship or refuse to skip church often feel forced to choose between their faith and their safety education—a decision no person should have to make.
To create true access for all, the League should offer an alternate schedule for low-income and faith-based participants, beginning Thursday through Saturday. This small but meaningful adjustment would allow observant Christians and other worshippers to complete the course without violating their conscience.
Such scheduling flexibility respects diverse work and worship commitments while upholding the League’s goal of teaching safety to everyone.
Leadership for At-Risk Riders
The riders who most need this training are often those currently riding the wrong way or using sidewalks out of fear of traffic. They are not rulebreakers—they are riders seeking survival.
Through the LCI program, these same individuals can transform from uncertain cyclists into confident community leaders. The course teaches lane control, hazard avoidance, group ride coordination, and communication skills, turning at-risk riders into mentors.
After certification, instructors can even receive a tax deduction for volunteering to teach local courses through the League of American Bicyclists, particularly when serving bike recipients from community repair programs like Bike Walk Indian River County.
This model not only improves safety but also builds leadership, responsibility, and civic pride.
Faith, Focus, and Freedom
President Russell M. Nelson once taught:
“The joy we feel has little or nothing to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.”
The same principle applies to teaching road safety. When communities focus on proper training, patience, and respect, the result is fewer injuries, stronger families, and more freedom on the road.
The Movement of Ownership
This is not a movement of outrage—it’s a movement of ownership.
It’s about faith in God, respect for family, and belief in every individual’s ability to rise through effort, not entitlement.
Real change doesn’t come from politics or protests—it comes from people willing to serve, teach, and nurture—one home, one street, and one ride at a time.
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