Summer’s here and it’s time to ditch those training wheels. You’ve got the bike, the helmet and an eager (or anxious) learner driver, now all you need is the perfect setting. A decent sized car-free enclosure without lycra-clad adult cyclists isn’t easy to find in this city but fret not – this is New York after all, where stuff gets done and independence is forged! Click through to find the best spots to launch your budding bicyclist…

Bike Bonanzas, All Boroughs

Join dozens of families at one of the city's monthly summer Bike Bonanzas. These free community building events are run by Bike New York, a nonprofit with a mission to educate and encourage biking and bike safety.  In partnership with the city, volunteers take care of cordoning off the area and there are instructors on hand to teach kiddos aged 5 yrs and up how to balance, pedal, start, stop, and steer. NYC DOT also supplies and fits helmets for little ones. They can accommodate up to 50 kids in each two-hour session and the teacher student ratio is 1:8. Bring a helmet and a bike without training wheels. The bike needs to be in good working order with functioning brakes. Check here for times and locations and be sure to register to secure your spot. These events also run a bike swap so you can upgrade to the next size if the kids have outgrown their wheels.

Locations across the city
Noon - 2 p. m
Online: bike.nyc

photo credit: Bike New York

Where do you plan to ditch the training wheels? Let us know in the comments below!

—Emily Myers