The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will offer low-cost adult bike classes in September, October, and November. The classes will include nine Learn to Ride and one Basic Skills class. MCDOT will also offer two free, walk-up e-scooter classes following select bike classes.
Advance registration is required to participate in the bike classes, with a cost of $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) or Capital Bikeshare for All members; however, registration is still required.
“We are building out our bicycling network across the County, with safe, accessible pathways connecting residents to public transportation, downtown areas, and public transportation hubs,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “These bike classes allow our residents to gain bike-riding skills and learn safety tips, whether this is their first time on a bike or they are looking to boost their confidence. I encourage anyone who is interested to sign up now because classes fill up quickly.”
Participants in the Learn to Ride bike classes will learn how to start and stop, balance, glide, pedal, and steer a bike. Each student will progress at their own pace. Students in the Basic Skills class should be able to ride a bike and will continue to practice basic biking skills. The classes will be led by experienced WABA instructors.
The classes are open to residents 18 and over, are limited to 25 people, and fill up quickly.
Online registration for September classes is now open. Registration for October classes will open at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and November class registration will open at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. Registration is available on the WABA website under the Classes tab.
Adult Learn to Ride Bike Class Schedule:
- Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-noon. Davis Construction at the Twinbrook Metro Center I, 12530 Parklawn Drive, Rockville.
- Sunday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m.-noon. Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown.
- Saturday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m.-noon. Montgomery College, Parking Lot 13, 900 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. *Free scooter class to follow.
- Sunday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Upper County Community Recreation Center, 8201 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg.
- Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane, White Oak.
- Sunday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Farm Women’s Market, Parking Lot 24, 4601 Leland St., Bethesda.
- Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Westfield Montgomery Mall (former Sears parking lot), 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda.
- Sunday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Columbia Pike, Burtonsville.
- Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wheaton Ice Arena (back parking lot), 11717 Orebaugh Ave., Wheaton. *Free scooter class to follow.
Adult Basic Skills Bike Class Schedule:
- Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Montgomery College, Parking Lot 13, 900 Hungerford Drive, Rockville.
Rain dates for all classes will be held two weeks after the original class date and time, except for the Nov. 14 class date, which will be held one week after the original class date.
Residents can drop in anytime during the two-hour adult e-scooter classes immediately following the bike classes on Sept. 26 and Oct. 24. E-scooter classes do not require pre-registration. Anyone age 18 or over with a valid driver’s license or ID can join. E-scooters and helmets are provided.
“We’re excited to see continued enthusiasm for our adult bike and e-scooter classes,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “MCDOT is committed to making cycling a safe, affordable, and accessible option for all residents. We’re advancing our protected bike lane projects and strengthening those connections to transit. We currently have three projects in construction that will add a total of two miles of safe pathways for cyclists, and an additional 20 projects in the planning phase.”
To register for the bike classes, visit waba.org/classes. For more information and to view any future inclement weather cancellations, visit MCDOT’s website or call 240-777-8380.
For information on MCDOT programs and services, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.
# # #
Read the original article at mcgov
