l lower their seat enough that they can place both feet on the ground as they learn. This provides both comfort and safety.
Start with a bicyclist's helmet, bike, and find a hill that slopes gently down. Go about 15 yards up and try coasting down the slope without using the pedals. Work towards keeping your knees and feet close to the bicycle, as this will help with overall balancing. And use your feet if you need to propel yourself, depending on the slope.
Repeat this process until you feel comfortable with the initial steps outlining balance and coasting techniques.
At first, you can simply push yourself along with your feet to get comfortable using the pedals on the bicycle. Understand how to use the brakes so that you can stop yourself when you need to, without crashing.
If you feel like it, use only one pedal, first. Then try both as you coast down the gently sloping hill. Work pedaling into the practice now and see how that feels. Remember, start slow and only do what feels comfortable to you. You can raise the seat in increments after each practice run down the hill -- Whatever is comfortable for you and at whatever pace you need to go.
Work with braking and pedaling until you feel you're ready to move on to the next step in the learning process.
Going in a Straight Line/Turning
Find an unused section of flat land for this next exercise, whether it be a field, parking lot, etc. Working from a standstill, have one pedal pointed at the handlebars. This will allow for you to start strong and power the bicycle forward without stalling or slowing. Work toward a smooth and steady start, if at all possible. Practice makes perfect on this one.
Head straight and then practice applying the brakes. For the next step, lean slightly to turn, steering your way through the bend. Try to increase the speed now when your confidence has grown. Now you understand braking, balance, pedaling, turning, and speed.
The only left to do is take your practice skills out on the road or trails. Always be safe, wear a helmet, and obey the laws when you ride. For more information on learning how to ride a bicycle, common mistakes, and education opportunities, head over to International Bicycle Fund website.
Bicycling for Beginners.org: Learning to Ride.
iBike.org: Teaching a Kid (and Adult) to Ride a Bicycle.
Above photo attributed to Ed Yourdon