Free Bike Riding Classes for Kids

It's a big deal when your kid learns to ride a two-wheeler. In fact, it's a major rite of passage. Bike New York and City of New York Parks and Recreation have lined up more than a dozen free Learn to Ride--Kids classes in neighborhoods all over the city every weekend until November, including two in Brooklyn .

Parents can bring children to learn the magical balance-first method plus starting, stopping, steering, and other biking necessities. So far this year, more than 1,000 kids and their parents learned this method, and the program received the 2007 Best of Parks Best Partnership Award.

This program is for children with their parents; recommended for ages 5 and up. Bikes and helmets required. Pre-register at http://www.bikenewyork.org/education/classes/learn_to_ride.html .

The When and the Where:

Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Owls Head Park, Shore Parkway, Shore Road, Colonial Road, and 68th Street, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Saturday, October 11, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Linden Park , Linden Boulevard and Stanley Avenue, Vermont to Wyona Streets, New Lots, Brooklyn

Sponsored by Bike New York is a non-profit organization that promotes and encourages bicycling and bicycle safety through education, public events, and collaboration with community and government organizations. Best known as producer of the nation's largest recreational cycling event, the Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour, Bike New York also organizes smaller rides and runs a Bicycle Education Program offering free classes and workshops for adults and children. For more information on Bike New York 's rides and programs, including registration details, visit www.BikeNewYork.org.