Montgomery County Offering Adult Bike and Scooter Classes This September, October and November

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 8, 2023

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 both Learn to Ride and Basic Skills classes. MCDOT also will offer four free, walk-up scooter classes following select bike classes.

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 classes on the WABA website under the Classes tab. Registration for October classes will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 28, and November class registration will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 2.

Adult Learn to Ride Bike Class schedule:

• Sunday, Sept. 10. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Spanish Class). Wheaton Ice Arena (back parking lot), 11717 Orebaugh Dr., Wheaton. *Free scooter class to follow.

• Saturday, Sept. 30. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Upper County Recreation Center, 8201 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg. *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.

Adult Basic Skills Bike Class schedule:

• 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.

Rain dates for all the adult bike and e-scooter classes will be one week after the original class date and time.

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. 10, 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.

For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.  

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Release ID: 23-348
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta 240-372-2282
Categories: Transportation