Transportation Department to teach bicycle skills to women this summer

Women who would like to learn to ride a bike, or sharpen existing skills, will have an opportunity to do so in the City of Boston this summer.  The Boston Transportation Department today announced that basic bike riding as well as “street skills” clinics are scheduled to take place free of charge from May through September at locations throughout the City.

“A key priority of our Go Boston 2030 plan is ensuring that Boston residents have access to a variety of transportation options,” said Mayor Walsh.  “I am proud that through these clinics, we are able to extend opportunities for more people to take advantage of bicycling, while becoming better prepared to confidently make their way around the City.”

“The Boston Transportation Department is working diligently to improve our bicycle infrastructure and provide streets that are welcoming to bike riders,” said Boston Transportation Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca.  “I am pleased that we are able to offer this instructional opportunity that will help women in Boston get involved in bicycling as a means of transportation, or simply for exercise and recreation.”

Clinics are open to all residents of Boston who identify as women.  Pre-registration is required on the program website at www.boston.gov/women-bike .  Space is limited and early registration is strongly encouraged.  Registrants are asked to bring their own bikes and helmets, or may request to borrow equipment from BTD through the registration process.

The clinics are supported in part by Let’s Get Healthy, Boston!, a partnership of the Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Alliance for Community Health to make it easier for residents to make healthy choices in physical activity.  This three year initiative is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Partnerships to Improve Community Health grant, and is working to reduce the prevalence of obesity, tobacco use and exposure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes in the City of Boston.

The current instruction schedule is as follows.  For more information, including additions to this schedule, please see the program website.

Basic Skills – These clinics are intended for those who never learned to ride or need to brush up on basic skills.

• Saturday, May 13, 10 AM-12 PM, Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Roxbury
• Wednesday, June 14, 6:30PM-8:30 PM, Mildred K-8 School, Mattapan
• Tuesday, July 11, 6 PM-8 PM, Donald McKay School, East Boston
• Wednesday, August 16, 6 PM-8 PM, Bunker Hill Community College, Charlestown
• Saturday, September 16, 10 AM-12 PM, Orton Field (tentative location), South Boston
• Saturday, September 30, 10 AM-12 PM, Dorchester location to be announced

Street Skills – These clinics are for women who have the basic skills, such as, starting, stopping and turning, but want to build their confidence riding on the streets.  They are generally held immediately following Basic Skills Clinics.  If you are attending a preceding Basic Skills Clinic, you do not need to register separately for the Intro to Street Riding Clinics.

• Saturday, May 13, 12 PM-2 PM, Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Roxbury
• Saturday, September 16, 12 PM-2 PM, Orton Field (tentative location), South Boston
• Saturday, September 30, 12 PM-2 PM, Dorchester location to be announced

The Boston Transportation Department is also continuing a partnership with the Boston Public School Department to teach bicycle skills in school.  Three thousand students in grades two through twelve will learn bicycle safety through lessons, practice and having fun this spring and fall.  The program has worked with over 35,000 Boston youth since 2009.