Do you want to learn how to ride a bike? Now is your chance to learn a new skill! The Green Commuter Program is offering free Adult Bike Riding classes to employees and students at UC Davis Health.
Classes are available to all active UC Davis Health employees and students.
No experience necessary! You do not even need a bike to participate. Bicycles and helmets will be provided for participants to use during the class.
Spring 2025 Sessions
We are excited to offer TWO sessions this spring, in March and April 2025. Each session will consist of three classes, one preliminary virtual class on Zoom, and a two-day in-person riding course.
March Session
- Thursday, March 20, 2025, 6 – 7 p.m.: Preliminary Virtual Class on Zoom
- Saturday, March 22, 2025, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Day 1 Riding Instruction (in-person)
- Sunday, March 23, 2025, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Day 2 Riding Instruction (in-person)
April Session
- Thursday, April 10, 2025, 6 – 7 p.m.: Preliminary Virtual Class on Zoom
- Saturday, April 12, 2025, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Day 1 Riding Instruction (in-person)
- Sunday, April 13, 2025, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Day 2 Riding Instruction (in-person)
Participants must be able to attend all three classes in the session. Riding Instruction classes will be held in-person at UC Davis Health (Sacramento campus).
Apply Now!
You must complete a brief application to be considered. The application process is meant to gauge your experience level (if any) and goals to best structure the curriculum. Each session is limited to 6 participants to allow for adequate attention from the instructor.
To be eligible for these classes, you must be affiliated with UC Davis Health:
- Active employee at UC Davis Health (Medical Center campus or outlying location) or
- Student enrolled in School of Medicine or School of Nursing
Applications close on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
All applicants will be contacted via email by March 7, 2025 if they have or have not been selected for a Spring 2025 session.
Program Goals
UC Davis is well known for its strong cycling community, and we would like to strengthen that community at UC Davis Health too. We have found that many of our employees and students are among the 6% of the adult population who do not know how to ride a bike. By offering classes to teach adults how to ride a bike, our goal is to break down barriers that may prevent someone from choosing a more sustainable transportation option.
Not only will learning to ride a bike offer participants a life-changing new skill, but it will also provide participants with a new way to engage in healthy behaviors and reduce impact on the environment.
We hope to mitigate the feelings of shame, fear, and embarrassment that adults often feel when not knowing how to ride a bike, especially in a community like UC Davis that is so bike-centric. Learning to ride a bike will provide participants with a new sense of inclusion within our UC Davis community, along with a new sense of empowerment and confidence with this new skill.
But the impact does not stop there—we hope that awareness of this program will inspire others to get out and ride their bikes or teach their friends the joy of riding. Every single bike trip makes an impact on individual health, community health, and reducing our carbon footprint.
A special thank you to Healthy UC Davis
The classes are made possible by a grant awarded by Healthy UC Davis. The grant covers the costs of instruction and materials necessary for the class, including the bicycles that participants will use to learn how to ride, so that it is completely free to employees and students. Not only will learning to ride a bike offer participants a life-changing new skill, but it will also provide participants with a new way to engage in healthy behaviors and reduce impact on the environment.
Questions?
Feel free to reach out to Green Commuter Program Coordinators Sarah Janus stjanus@ucdavis.edu or Marissa Barber mnbarber@ucdavis.edu