Bike Ed Newsletter
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Class Types
Free, in-person and online bicycle education classes are available for all ages, skills and experience levels.
Beginner
How To Ride A Scooter Workshop
This free drop-in course gives participants an overview of the basic skills needed for riding a scooter safely and confidently. Whether you’re new to riding electric scooters or just need to practice – this class will help you get started scootin’ around safely! [In-Person]
Scooter Practice
These classes are great for students to practice riding scooters in both car-free areas and on-road! Students will start off practicing in car-free spaces, developing important beginner skills such as confidently starting and stopping, turning in a controlled speed and manner, and scanning the road to anticipate others’ behavior. Eventually, the group will do an easy on-road ride in light traffic and with other road users to practice our skills. [In-Person]
Adult Learn to Ride
On-bike class for absolute beginners who want to learn to ride a bike for the first time. Instructors will work one-on-one to assist participants in learning the basics of balancing, starting, stopping and steering a bike, as well as proper helmet fit and adjustment. [In-Person]
On-Bike Practice for Beginning Adult Cyclists
On-bike class for beginners who want more practice riding in car-free areas and in traffic. We’ll start in a car-free space, working on confidently starting, stopping, scanning, and signaling. We’ll then take to the streets for a guided group ride where we’ll practice our new skills. [In-Person]
Smart City Cycling 1: Classroom
This is the perfect class for people interested in biking but intimidated by urban traffic, and for anyone who’s already riding and wants to hone their skills. We’ll cover choosing a bike, the rules of the road, biking in traffic, handling intersections, and avoiding collisions. [Online and in-person]
Intro to Biking in SF with Bay Wheels
In partnership with Bay Wheels, this class covers bicycling for everyday riding in SF, the rules of the road, route planning, how to use Bay Wheels, and details of Bike Share for All (Bay Wheels’ program for low-income participants). [Online and in-person]
Intro to Biking in San Francisco Webinar
This class will teach you how to get started riding in San Francisco, or help you brush up on your skills if you already ride a bike. We’ll cover how to pick a bike, bicycle and helmet fit, route planning, rules of the road, crash prevention, how to protect your bike, and more. [Online]
Intermediate
Scooter Safety Skills
Take this course to learn and practice riding a scooter on urban streets with motor vehicles and other road users! Participants will be taught safe scooter practices including proper scooter parking, riding in traffic, pedestrian and road right-of-way procedures, scooter traffic laws, street navigation, and techniques for crash avoidance. [In-Person]
Smart City Cycling 2: Maneuvering
On-bike class for people who have completed Smart City Cycling 1 or Intro to Biking in San Francisco and want to learn maneuvering skills for safe city bicycling. This class will teach bike-handling skills you need to safely and confidently ride in urban traffic. Conducted in a car-free space, this class will cover how to ride with one hand in order to signal, scanning over one’s shoulder, and crash-avoidance maneuvers. [In-Person]
Advanced
Scooter Road Practice
These classes consist of two-hour joint on-bike and on-scooter instruction. In this course, students will practice street-riding skills on increasingly high-volume streets, focusing on skills such as taking a full traffic lane, lane changes, vehicular left turns, box turns, and communicating intended actions through hand signals and lane positioning. [In-Person]
Smart City Cycling 3: Road Practice
On-bike class for people who have completed Smart City Cycling 2. In this class, we’ll go on a guided group ride to practice street-riding skills on increasingly high-volume streets. Skills covered in this class include taking the lane, changing lanes, left turns, and lane positioning and signaling. [In-Person]
Night and All-Weather Biking
This class, designed for riders who already feel comfortable navigating city streets, will teach you how to prepare to ride in suboptimal weather and light conditions. We’ll cover safe riding practices, what equipment you need, and how to keep your bike running smoothly, including how to clean and lubricate your chain. This class is off-bike and in a classroom (or online)[Online or in-person]
Driver
Bike-Safe Driving
This off-bike, classroom class will teach users of all modes of transportation, including people who walk, bike, drive, and take transit, how to keep ourselves and each other safe on our shared streets. We’ll cover effective communication between different modes of travel, rules of the road, safe practices and right of way at intersections, and how to navigate various types of bicycle infrastructure, whether you’re riding a bike, walking, or driving. [Online or in-person]
The majority of classes listed are part of the SFMTA’s Bicycle Safety Education program, presented in partnership with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. It is made possible by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority through a grant of Proposition K Local Transportation Sales Tax Funds.
FAQs
Do I need to bring my own bicycle to class?
For on-bike classes (Adult Learn to Ride, On-Bike Practice for Beginning Adult Cyclists, Smart City Cycling 2 and 3), yes, all participants must either bring a bike or rent one in advance. Bikes will not be available for rental at the class. If you don’t have a bicycle, you will be contacted before the class with information on how to rent one. If the cost of a bike rental (about $20) is a barrier for you, we may be able to cover the cost. You can contact the Bike Education Coordinator at qmaxwell@sfbike.org or 415.323.0597 to see there is still funding available.
How old do you have to be to attend a class?
Our classroom and webinar classes are open to people of all ages, though the cadence and curriculum is designed for those 15 and older. Our on-bike classes are limited to people 18 years old and older. If you are looking for classes specifically for youth, please see our calendar.
Do you have classes for youth?
We do! Check out our calendar of upcoming youth and family classes.
Do you have classes in languages other than English?
We do! Check out our calendar for classes in español (Spanish), 廣東話(Cantonese), 普通话 (Mandarin) and Tagalog.
Don't see what you're looking for?
Take our survey to let us know what types of things you want to learn about.
Can't find a class on our calendar that works with your schedule?
Visit Bike East Bay’s website for a schedule of available classes. Our classes are transferrable so you can take Smart City Cycling 1 or Smart City Cycling 2 and 3 in either location.
General questions?
Email education@sfbike.org or call 415-409-9416.
What COVID-19 precautions are you taking?
We are holding our classes in strict adherence with SFDPH guidelines, including instituting health screenings, mandating face coverings, enforcing social distancing, and providing PPE. We have resumed with in-person, outdoor, on-bike classes, and are still holding webinars.
Youth and Family Classes
Want to start biking with your kiddo? That’s great! The SF Bicycle Coalition teaches family biking classes that cover everything from biking while pregnant to biking your child to school. Biking with your family allows you to spend more quality, healthy time together.
Freedom From Training Wheels
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is proud to help the next generation learn to ride confidently and comfortably on two wheels at the Freedom From Training Wheels Family Workshops across the city. At every Sunday Streets instructors are on hand to help caretakers and kids glide and ride on two wheels.
School Physical Education Courses
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and YMCA YBike Program are proud to partner in helping San Francisco students learn to ride confidently and comfortably on two wheels. In our two-week long programs, YBike staff teach traffic safety and biking skills through classroom and on-bike experiences.