Reduced-price Adult Bike Classes to be Offered in Spring

Adults who want to learn more about riding bicycles will have the opportunity to take reduced-price classes this spring sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). “Adult Learn to Ride” and “Basic Skills” classes will be offered for $10 for County residents and free for Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and Capital Bikeshare For All members.

Classes are led by WABA instructors and are designed for residents 18 or older. Bikes and helmets are provided to participants.

Classes will be offered in April, May and June. To register, go to waba.org/join.

The Learn to Ride Class is for individuals who have never ridden a bike before, have tried to learn but have been unsuccessful or who have not ridden for some time. Classes will cover the basics of balancing, gliding, pedaling and stopping.

The Basic Skills Clinic is the next step for those who have recently taken a Learn to Ride class or who know how to ride a bike but have not been on one in some time. The class will focus on skills such as turning, shifting, braking gradually and weaving.

Classes run from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the following days:

• *Saturday, April 9: Learn to Ride Class: Westfield Montgomery (top floor of Nordstrom Garage), Bethesda.
  
  
• *Saturday, April 30: Learn to Ride Class: Upper County Recreation Center (center parking lot), Gaithersburg.
  
  
• *Saturday, May 7: Basic Skills Clinic: Wheaton Ice Arena (back left parking lot), Wheaton.
  
  
• Saturday, May 21: Learn to Ride Class: GEICO (front parking lot), Chevy Chase.
  
  
• *Saturday, June 11: Basic Skills Clinic: Montgomery College (Parking Lot 13), Rockville.
  
  
• Saturday, June 25: Learn to Ride: Burtonsville Park and Ride lot (behind Burtonsville Crossing shopping center), Burtonsville.
  
  *Select classes will offer a free e-scooter safety training and test ride from noon until 2 p.m.

There is no registration required for the scooter class and walk-ups are welcome.

The classes are an affordable way to include biking as another form of transportation. They also are a great way to prepare to participate in Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20.