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Free Urban Cycling Workshops

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition helps more people feel safe, comfortable and confident when biking in the city. Pre-register today to save your place in one of these free urban cycling workshops! Open to people over 14 years of age.

Two-Part Urban Cycling Workshops

Ideal for new and more experienced cyclists who want to become more confident and safe riding on city streets. Classes are taught by licensed instructors.

In-Class: Intro to Safe Cycling (Day 1)
On Road: Street Skills Primer (Day 2)

How to Ride Anywhere in San Francisco

Class taught in Spanish (En Español)
Class taught in Chinese ()

You are Never Too old to Learn

Learn How To Ride a Bicycle

In-Class: Intro to Safe Cycling (Day 1)

This four-hour in-classroom, introductory course is perfect for new cyclists and those want to feel more comfortable riding on city streets. Class will cover the basics for how to choose the right bike and properly fit a helmet. Learn tips for the safest ways to ride in traffic, techniques to avoid or deal with road hazards and emergency maneuvers along with other useful gems of knowledge, like the best way to lock up your bike and how to use a bike in combination with public transit, and cyclists' legal rights and responsibilities. Adults and anyone over 14 years of age are welcome, preregistration is required. Bring your lunch or dinner. No bicycle is needed for this class.

Note: This class is the "day 1" course for League of American Bicyclists' Bike Ed Road I certification.

Upcoming In Class: Intro to Safe Cycling Workshops

You may attend a class at any location.

  • Bernal Heights: Saturday July 31, 2:00pm - 6:00pm
    Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, 515 Cortland, San Francisco
  • Fort Mason: Sunday, September 12, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
    Fort Mason Center, C260, Building C, Entrance at Marina Blvd. and Buchanan St., San Francisco

Check back regularly for more courses in 2010!

On Road: Street Skills Primer (Day 2)

Photo by Dave Campbell

Practice what you learned in the Intro to Safe Cycling class. This Street Skills Primer class follows a comfortable progression onto city streets, beginning with a short review of the lessons from the Intro course. After a basic bike maintenance session, riders will practice their bike maneuvering skills in a car-free practice area before taking it to the streets in small, intimate groups led by their instructors. Riders will gain experience riding alongside moving traffic in different traffic conditions, and apply the safe riding techniques practiced in the car-free space into real-life situations. Adults and anyone over 14 years of age are welcome; bicycle, helmet and preregistration required. Please bring your lunch.

Prerequisite: Intro to Safe Cycling (Day 1).
Note: This class completes the League's Bike Ed Road I certification

All courses meet at the Park Police Station (click here for map). Bicycles are required for this course.

Upcoming On Road: Street Skills Primer Workshops

Registration opens one month before each course date.
  • Saturday, August 14, 10am-4pm
    (Registration is now open)
  • Saturday, September 11 , 10am-4pm

Como montar en bicicleta en cualquier parte de SF: en español

Photo by Dave Campbell

En preparación para el Día de de Montar en Bicicleta al Trabajo, La Coalición de la Bicicleta de San Francisco le mostrará la mejor manera de dirigirse por la ciudad en bicicleta con la máz seguridad y rapidez. Usted reciberá una introducción a dirigiendose en tráfico, el equipo necesario, evitando accidentes, y sus derechos y responsabilidades legales. Este taller general de 1 hora será presentado en español, y una bicicleta no es necesario.

Summer dates, times, and locations to be determined (TBD).

How to Ride Anywhere in SF: In Chinese ()

Learn the best way to get around town quickly and safely by bike. You'll get an introduction to riding safely in traffic, necessary equipment and cyclists' legal rights and responsibilities. This two-hour classroom overview is conducted in Chinese, and a bicycle is not required.

Summer dates, times, and locations to be determined (TBD).

Learn How To Ride a Bike

You're never too old to learn to bicycle! Instructors will work one-on-one to teach the basics of balancing, starting, stopping and steering a bike as well as proper helmet fit and adjustment. Most people learn to ride their bike while taking the class, but even if they don't, they will leave with tips to continue teaching themselves to ride.

The class begins your bicycle pedals are removed and the seat is low enough that you can put both feet on the ground, you'll learn balance by taking longer and longer steps until you're "gliding". We'll show you how to turn confidently and stop smoothly. Next we'll reinstall the pedals, so you can incorporate pedaling and learning to steer, and how to steer precisely in circles and figure-8's. You'll finish your lesson by learning how to shift gears so you can conquer hills and enjoy longer rides. Please see the list of nearby bike rental shops below the sign-up form.

Upcoming Learn How to Ride a Bike Classes.

Registration opens one month before each course date

All courses meet at the Waller Practice Area, Waller St. at Stanyan. The 'In-Class: Intro to Safe Cycling (Day 1)' is required before taking the Adult Learn-to-ride course.

  • Sunday, August 15, 10am-1pm
    (Registration is now open)
  • Sunday, October 10, 10am-1pm

Places to rent a bike for Adult Learn to Ride Courses

SF Cyclery, 672 Stanyan St., 415-379-3870

Avenue Cyclery, 756 Stanyan St., 415-387-3155

If you have any questions, please contact BikeEd@sfbike.org.


Photo by Dave Campbell


Links

Bay Area Bike Ed Class Schedule

League of American Bicyclists BikeEd Program

Palo Alto offers bike safety classes for parents with kids under 10 as well as for kids ages 10-14 with a parent

SFBC's Bicycle Safety Education Project is working to incorporate service learning projects that focus on bicycling and transportation issues into class curriculums.

Bicycling Street Smarts John Allen's safety bible


Sponsored by

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