Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike

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Is your child at that age where he or she wants to ride a two-wheeler? Is your back sore from bending over to balance your child on a rolling bicycle? Has your child taken a tumble while using training wheels and gotten scared of biking? If so, this class is for you.

Course Content: This class teaches a safe, easy, effective way for parents to help get their children rolling--a method in which the child does most of the work! Participants learn the basics of balancing, starting, stopping, and steering a bike. Children may learn to ride their bike while taking the class, but even if they don't, parents will leave with an easy, hands-free, crash-free, and low-stress way to teach their child to ride.

Requirements: All cyclists must wear a helmet and have a bicycle that fits. The child must be able to rest his or her feet flat on the ground while sitting on the bicycle seat. The program works best for children ages 5 and up.

Class Schedule:
  • Sunday, July 13, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., 78th Street between 34th Ave. and Northern Blvd., Jackson Heights, Queens, as part of the Jackson Heights Play Street program. Closest subway: 7 train to 82nd Street/Jackson Heights.
  • Sunday, July 13, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Clinton Ave. between Myrtle Ave. and Willoughby Ave., Fort Greene, Brooklyn, as part of BAM's AfroPunk Block Party. Closest subway: G train to Clinton/Washington Aves.
We are hoping to hold additional classes on the following dates. Please check back for details about times and locations. Or, to schedule a session for your group, contact our Bicycle Education Program Director, Rich Conroy.
  • Saturday, July 19
  • Saturday, August 9
  • Sunday, August 10
  • Saturday, August 16
  • Saturday, August 23
Registration Details: Participation is free, but pre-registration is required. No day-of-class walk-ins, please.
Schedule a Class for Your Group: If you have any questions or wish to arrange a class for a group of children, simply contact Bike New York's Bicycle Education Program staff.

Learn to Ride trainings for educators are also available. Details >

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photo: Teaching a child how to ride a bike
If a youngster in your life is ready for a new set of wheels, check out our shopping guide before you hit the stores.


Parents can help children learn to ride in just an hour or so! If you can't make it to a class, click the play button to watch a video of a class from It's My Park on NYC TV (3:58) and follow the instructions in our learn-to-ride guide (PDF).

Best of Parks Award Winner!
Bike New York's Bicycle Education Program received the 2007 Best of Parks Best Partnership Award from City of New York Parks and Recreation in recognition of these classes, which were offered city-wide through a new collaboration between the two organizations and other local agencies. Details [PDF] >