2017 Dates
- March 18th – Hickory Grove Rec Center
- May 13th – McClintock Middle School
- August 12th – MLK Jr Middle School
- October 28th – Berewick Recreation Center
Learn to Ride Voted Best Kids’ Ride
Endurance Magazine Awards
Looks like the secret’s out! Endurance Magazine readers voted Learn to Ride as Charlotte’s “Best Kids Ride.” The December issue lists readers’ favorite retailers, events, workout spots, and restaurants that support a healthy, active lifestyle.
Over five unique events this past year alone, Learn to Ride volunteers have taught hundreds of kids (of all ages) to ride a bicycle using the “balance bike” method. Events are held in school parking lots and tracks at Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation facilities.
“We are about having children and adults experiencing all aspects of recreation,” said Jim Garges, director of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. “Learning to ride a bike is fundamental to that purpose… Teaching children to ride is of course about fun, but it’s also about health and safety. Ride on!!”
Learn to Ride is a not-for-profit, 100% volunteer series of events to grow Charlotte’s cycling community, one new cyclist at a time. Learn to Ride is made possible by founders Bicycle Sport, Trips for Kids’ ReCyclery – Charlotte, and well-run media + marketing, in partnership with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Mecklenburg County Public Health, and support from Unknown Bike and Brew and Crank Mafia cycling clubs, and dozens of volunteers.
The next Learn to Ride event is scheduled for Saturday, January 7, 2017 at McClintock Middle School. Find out more about the program and www.learntorideCLT.com.
So, what’s this Learn to Ride thing all about anyway?
Simply put, it’s the story of something that started simply in an effort to grow Charlotte’s cycling community, one new rider at at time. Thanks to the support of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Mecklenburg County Public Health, Unknown Bike & Brew, Crank Mafia, our partners, and volunteers, Learn to Ride is doing just that. Attracting hundreds of eager riders, family, and friends at each event, Learn to Ride provides a safe, fun, free, and all-ages opportunity to learn a skill that will last a lifetime.
Learn to Ride adds MORE Cyclists to Charlotte
FREE Program Puts Kids AND Grown-Ups on Two Wheels
Count more than one hundred kids and adults among Charlotte’s newest cyclists. They ditched the training wheels for good during Saturday’s Learn to Ride event at Marion Diehl Recreation Center.
Learn to Ride has minted more than 500 new bike riders of all ages this year using the “balance bike” method. Saturday’s event capped a year of five Learn to Ride events that brought the program to school parking lots and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation facilities across town. Organizers are looking at locations now for a January event.
“The Learn to Ride program is much more than teaching folks how to ride a bicycle,” said Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Director Jim Garges. “It’s about encouraging them to believe in themselves, understand the importance of trust and embrace alternative forms of transportation.”
“Getting new people riding a bike – no matter what their age – is a life skill,” said Ben Cooley, event co-founder and owner of Bicycle Sport. “It’s never to late to learn!”
Learn to Ride is a not-for-profit, 100% volunteer series of events to grow Charlotte’s cycling community, one new cyclist at a time. Learn to Ride is made possible in partnership with Bicycle Sport, Trips for Kids’ ReCyclery – Charlotte and well-run media + marketing with support from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Mecklenburg County Public Health, and Unknown Bike and Brew and Crank Mafia cycling clubs.
For more information about Learn to Ride, check out the program website at www.learntorideclt.com. Or, contact Dick Winters with Mecklenburg County Public Health at 980-314-9067 or Dick.Winters@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov, or Ben Cooley at Bicycle Sport at ben@bicyclesport.com, or 704-335-0323.