Montgomery County Offering Adult Bike and E-Scooter Classes in May and June

 

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will offer low-cost adult bike classes in May and June. The classes will include six Learn to Ride and one Basic Skills class. Following select bike classes, MCDOT will also offer four free, walk-up e-scooter 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. 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 on-site, if needed, for the Basic Skills class participants.   

“Our adult bike and scooter classes provide residents with the skills and confidence they need to ride safely—whether for commuting, running errands or simply enjoying the outdoors,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Riding a bike is a fun and healthy activity and when bikes are used for local trips in place of cars, they can help reduce congestion and lower our carbon footprint."   

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 bike classes are open to residents 18 and over, are limited to 25 people and fill up quickly.  Online registration for May classes is now open on the WABA website under the Classes tab. June class registration will open at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 2.  Registration is full for all of the April Learn to Ride Bike classes. There is no fee or registration required for the adult e-scooter classes. Walk-ups are welcome. 

Adult E-Scooter classes in April: 

• Sunday, April 27. 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Wheaton Ice Arena (back parking lot), 11717 Orebaugh Dr., Wheaton.  

Adult Learn to Ride Bike class schedule:   

• Saturday, May 3. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kings View Rd., Germantown.  
• Saturday, May 17. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring.   
• Sunday, May 18. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Farm Women’s Market, Lot 24, 4601 Leland St., Bethesda.   
• Saturday, June 7. 9 a.m.-noon. Davis Construction at the Twinbrook Metro Center I, 12530 Parklawn Dr., Rockville.  
• Saturday, June 14. 9 a.m.-noon. Montgomery College (parking lot 13), 850 Hungerford Dr., Rockville. *Free e-scooter class to follow.   
• Sunday, June 22. 9 a.m.-noon. Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center 14906 Columbia Pike, Burtonsville.  

Adult Basic Skills Bike class schedule:   

• Saturday, May 24.10 a.m.-noon. Westfield Montgomery Mall (former Sears parking lot), 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. *Free scooter class to follow.   

Rain dates for all adult bike and e-scooter classes will be held two weeks after the original class date and time, except for the June 22 class (rain date will be June 29).   

The two-hour adult e-scooter classes are being offered on a drop-in basis immediately following select bike classes, including April 13, April 27, May 24 and June 14. E-scooter classes do not require pre-registration. Anyone 18 or over with a valid driver’s license or ID can join. E-scooters and helmets are provided.   

 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.