County offers adult bike and e-scooter classes this fall

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will offer low-cost adult bike classes  in September, October and November. The classes will include 11 Learn to Ride and one Basic Skills class. MCDOT will also offer two free, walk-up e-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 during registration for the Basic Skills class participants.   

“Adult bike and scooter classes are important, and I encourage anyone who is new to riding to take them,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The classes are part of Montgomery County’s commitment to giving our residents transportation choices that build stronger, healthier and more connected communities. I applaud MCDOT’s efforts to offer these opportunities to residents.” 

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 for September classes is now open on the WABA website. Registration for October classes will open at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2 and November class registration will open at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 30.   

Adult Learn to Ride Bike class schedule:   

• Sunday, Sept. 7, 9 a.m. to noon. Westfield Montgomery Mall (former Sears parking lot), 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. *Free scooter class to follow.    

• Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to noon. Davis Construction at the Twinbrook Metro Center I, 12530 Parklawn Drive, Rockville.   

• Sunday, Sept. 21, 9 a.m. to noon. Upper County Community Recreation Center, 8201 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg.   

• Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to noon. White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring.

• Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown. 

• Sunday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Farm Women’s Market, Lot 24, 4601 Leland St., Bethesda.  

• Sunday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Columbia Pike, Burtonsville.  

• Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring.   

• Sunday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wheaton Ice Arena (back parking lot), 11717 Orebaugh Ave., Wheaton. *Free scooter class to follow.   

• Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Westfield Montgomery Mall (former Sears parking lot), 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. 

• Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Montgomery College (parking lot 13), 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. 

Adult Basic Skills Bike Class schedule:   

• Saturday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to noon. Montgomery College (parking lot 13), 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville.  

Rain dates for all adult bike and e-scooter classes will be held 2 weeks after the original class date and time, except for the Saturday, Nov. 8 class, which will have a rain date of Nov. 15.   

The 2-hour adult e-scooter classes are being offered on a drop-in basis immediately following the bike classes on Sept. 7 and Nov. 2. E-scooter classes do not require pre-registration. Anyone 18 years old or older with a valid driver’s license or ID may join. E-scooters and helmets are provided.