The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will be offering low-cost adult bike classes in April, May and June. The classes will include Learn to Ride and Basic Skills classes. MCDOT also will offer four free, walk-up electric scooter classes following select bike classes.
Advance registration is required to participate in the bicycle 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.
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. E-scooter classes are free of charge.
“More people are riding bikes for recreation, exercise, or as a form of transportation,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Biking is a lot of fun, a great family activity and 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 April classes on the WABA website under the Classes tab. Registration for May classes will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, March. 25, and June class registration will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, April 29.
Adult Learn to Ride Bike class schedule:
Free two-hour adult e-scooter classes are being offered on a drop-in basis on four select days immediately following the bike classes on April 21, May 5, May 18 and June 23. E-scooter classes do not require pre-registration. Anyone 18 or over with a valid driver’s license or ID can join. E-scooters are provided.
Montgomery County features a total of 112 miles of bike lanes, bike-friendly road shoulders and separated bike lanes, also known as cycle tracks, for bike riders to enjoy countywide. 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.
“We have seen a great demand for adult bike classes,” said Chris Conklin, director of MCDOT. “Over the past year, we have added four additional bike classes at two new locations. Since 2021, more than 680 residents have registered for these trainings. We expect this interest to continue to grow. We are actively expanding our protected bike lanes in Bethesda and Downtown Silver Spring that seamlessly connect these two locations. We are also working to expand the separated bike lane network in North Bethesda, with projects that will improve access to Metro and other destinations.”
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.
Adult Learn to Ride Bike class schedule:
- Sunday, April 21. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Upper County Recreation Center, 8201 Emory Grove Rd., Gaithersburg. (NOTE: Class filled.) *Free e-scooter class to follow.
- Saturday, May 11. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-Op, 201 Ethan Allen Ave., Takoma Park. (NOTE: Class filled.)
- Saturday, May 18. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Montgomery College (parking lot 13), 850 Hungerford Dr., Rockville. (NOTE: Class filled.) *Free e-scooter class to follow.
- Sunday, June 9. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Davis Construction at the Twinbrook Metro Center I, 12530 Parklawn Dr., Rockville.
- Saturday, June 15. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. GEICO Chevy Chase Building, 5260 Western Ave., Chevy Chase.
- Sunday, May 5. 10 a.m.-noon, Westfield Montgomery Mall (former Sears parking lot), 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. *Free scooter class to follow.
- Saturday, June 1. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Bethesda Rescue Squad parking lot, 5020 Battery Ln., Bethesda.
- Sunday, June 23.10 a.m.-noon. Wheaton Ice Arena (back parking lot), 11711 Orebaugh Dr., Wheaton. *Free scooter class to follow.
Free two-hour adult e-scooter classes are being offered on a drop-in basis on four select days immediately following the bike classes on April 21, May 5, May 18 and June 23. E-scooter classes do not require pre-registration. Anyone 18 or over with a valid driver’s license or ID can join. E-scooters are provided.
Montgomery County features a total of 112 miles of bike lanes, bike-friendly road shoulders and separated bike lanes, also known as cycle tracks, for bike riders to enjoy countywide. 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.
“We have seen a great demand for adult bike classes,” said Chris Conklin, director of MCDOT. “Over the past year, we have added four additional bike classes at two new locations. Since 2021, more than 680 residents have registered for these trainings. We expect this interest to continue to grow. We are actively expanding our protected bike lanes in Bethesda and Downtown Silver Spring that seamlessly connect these two locations. We are also working to expand the separated bike lane network in North Bethesda, with projects that will improve access to Metro and other destinations.”
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.
