The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), in collaboration with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), is offering adult bike classes in September, October and November. The classes include Learn to Ride and Basic Skills classes. MCDOT also will offer free walk-up scooter classes following select bike classes.
The next adult basic skills bike class will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Bethesda Rescue Squad parking lot, which is located at 5020 Battery Lane in Bethesda.
Advance registration is required to participate in the bicycle classes and cost $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for WABA or Capital Bikeshare For All members. Bicycles and helmets will be provided at no charge for the adult Learn to Ride class participants and can be rented from WABA, if needed, for the Basic Skills class participants. Scooter classes are free of charge.
“Biking is a great activity for recreation, exercise, or as a form of transportation,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Biking is a lot of fun and a good for the environment as an alternative to using a motor vehicle. However, it is important to learn how to bike safely and responsibly. I encourage residents to take advantage of these low-cost bike classes and appreciate MCDOT’s efforts to offer them.”
Participants in the Learn to Ride bicycle 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 bicycle 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 is currently open for September and October classes on the WABA website under the Classes tab. November class registration will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 2.
Adult Learn to Ride Bike Class schedule:
- Saturday, Sept. 30. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Upper County Recreation Center, 8201 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg. (Note: Learn to Ride class is now filled.) *Free scooter class to follow.
- Saturday, Oct. 14. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Davis Construction at Twinbrook Metro Center I, 12530 Parklawn Drive, Rockville.
- Sunday, Oct. 22. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Westfield Montgomery Mall (former Sears parking lot), 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. *Free scooter class to follow.
- Saturday, Oct. 28. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Montgomery College (parking lot 13), 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. *Free scooter class to follow
- Sunday, Nov. 5. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. GEICO Chevy Chase Building, 5260 Western Ave., Chevy Chase.
- Saturday, Sept. 16. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Bethesda Rescue Squad parking lot, 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda.
- Saturday, Nov. 11. 10 a.m.-noon. Burtonsville Park & Ride Lot (behind Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center), 15701 Columbia Pike, Burtonsville.
Free two-hour adult scooter classes are being offered on a drop-in basis on four select days immediately following the bike classes on Sept. 30, Oct. 22 and Oct. 28. Scooter classes do not require pre-registration. Anyone 18 or over with a valid driver’s license or ID can join. Scooters are provided.
MCDOT installed the first eight miles of the County’s separated bike lanes in 2014 and is continuing to build more throughout the County. Multiple protected bike lane projects are currently in the planning and construction phases. Montgomery County features a total of 112 miles of bike lanes, bike-friendly road shoulders and separated bike lanes, also known as cycletracks, for bike riders to enjoy countywide.
“We have seen a great demand for adult bike classes,” said Chris Conklin, director of MCDOT. “Since spring 2021, more than 500 residents have registered for these trainings. We have added two additional classes this fall. We expect this interest to continue to grow. We are actively expanding our bike network. We recently completed bike paths in Olney and Clarksburg, and work is underway on protected bike lanes in Bethesda and Downtown Silver Spring that seamlessly connect these two locations.”
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 here or call 240-777-8380.
