Sacramento, California – Sacramento’s summer streets can feel different from the seat of a bike or the deck of a scooter. A quick trip to the library. A short ride to work. A safer way through an intersection. For residents who want to feel more confident before rolling into traffic, the City of Sacramento’s Transportation Planning team is taking its Urban Biking & Scooting 101 classes directly into neighborhoods this summer.
The free program is designed as a starter course, or a useful refresher, for people who bike or scoot on city streets. According to the city, the class covers bicycling and scooting laws, street riding, traveling through intersections, avoiding crashes and simply making the ride more enjoyable. Classes are offered monthly, and participants do not need to bring a bicycle or scooter to take part.
The in-person summer series runs from May through August, with evening sessions meant to make the class easier to attend after work or school. Participants also can leave with City of Sacramento bicycle swag, adding a small reward to a practical hour of learning. The city says the class also meets the requirements for the Sidewalk Bicycling Diversion Program, though it notes that it may not meet requirements for E-bike ticket diversion programs.
The next English-language class is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Colonial Heights Library, 4799 Stockton Blvd. Another English session will follow Thursday, July 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Valley Hi-North Laguna Library, 7400 Imagination Pkwy. A third English class is set for Tuesday, August 18, again from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Colonial Heights Library. Registration links are available through the city’s Urban Biking and Scooting 101 page.
A Spanish-language in-person session originally listed for June has been postponed to August. The city says the date and location are still to be determined, and residents who want updates can sign up for the Transportation Planning newsletter. Virtual classes will also continue alongside the summer neighborhood sessions, with online classes listed for July 14 and August 11.
For many riders, the hardest part is not owning a bike or scooter. It is knowing what to do once the street gets busy. Sacramento’s summer classes aim to close that gap, one hour, one neighborhood and one more confident rider at a time.