INTERVIEWS JENNI LAURITA LEAGUE CYCLING COACH AND EDUCATOR IN NEW YORK CITY How long have you been an LCI and a coach? I became an LCI in 2008, and I've been a coach for seven years. On a Sunday I got my certification. I started teaching the next Saturday, so six days later I started teaching. It was Bike New York who held the seminar, and they talked about how they needed instructors. So I started teaching that weekend and started teaching non-stop for a couple of years. What should people know about the Smart Cycling program? I think the biggest thing I want people to know is that you are in control of far more than what you think you can control. You can reduce your risk. You don't have to worry about what other people are doing. You don't have to worry about having to change other people's behaviors. By just examining your own behavior, you can reduce your risk of a lot of dangers. I always tell people, "Take a class. Take several classes. It will change the way you do everything on your bike." What would you tell people who are interested in becoming LCIs? First, I would encourage them to think about why they are interested in the LCI process. I would encourage them to go through the process because it helps you to become a much better cyclist because you are examining your own abilities and your own areas of growth. I would encourage them to become LCIs because we can't do this alone. WINTER 2018 BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMERICA 11