Riding a bike is a life skill. And as some skills go, it’s one not everyone has aptitude for or access to. The Learn to Ride program works to change those dynamics with free, volunteer-led opportunities around Mecklenburg County. Earlier this month, Learn to Ride program coordinators and partners hosted the first Learn to Ride event since 2020, after a nearly 3-year hiatus.
More than 100 participants registered for the Learn to Ride event held at Mecklenburg County’s Eastway Regional Recreation Center. Volunteer partners from the Bank City Bike Club, Birdsong Brewing/Slippery Sasquatch Race Team, joined Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation team members, Bicycle Sport, and friends to guide want-to-be cyclists through the tried-and-true “balance bike” method.
“This is a perfect partnership,” said Gabe Hackney, Facility Manager at Eastway Regional Recreation Center. “It means everything to help provide people with the skills be active, and to have committed partners in the process.”
“There’s nothing like the joy on the face of a person who’s just learned how to balance on two wheels,” added program co-founder, Dick Winters.
Winters, along with Bicycle Sport owner, Ben Cooley; and other partners launched the program 10 years ago. The shared vision to get people on bikes in a safe, accessible environment made the partnership with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation a natural fit. Since then, Learn to Ride has been recognized by the state for its efforts in teaching thousands of kids – and adults – how to ride a bike.
“Getting people on bikes is how we’re going to keep growing the Charlotte cycling community,” said Ben Cooley, program co-founder and owner of Bicycle Sport. “The more people on bikes, the easier, safer, and more convenient cycling is going to be for everyone– and the more good things will come from that.”
Plans for upcoming fall Learn to Ride events will be published on the program website at LearntoRideClt.com, or its Facebook page at Facebook/LearntoRideCLT.
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