What type of memory is primarily engaged when learning how to ride a bike?

When learning how to ride a bike, procedural memory is primarily engaged. This type of memory is responsible for the acquisition and performance of skills and actions, often referred to as "motor skills." Riding a bike involves a series of physical movements and coordination that become automatic as you practice.

Procedural memory is distinct from declarative memory, which involves facts and events that can be consciously recalled, such as knowing how to explain the rules of cycling or remembering your first time riding a bike. In contrast, once you learned how to ride, the ability to balance, pedal, and steer becomes ingrained in your skill set, making it a form of implicit memory that doesn't require conscious thought.

Short-term memory and working memory are involved in immediate tasks that require holding and manipulating information temporarily, such as remembering the steps involved in riding a bike during the initial learning phase. However, when discussing the actual skill of riding a bike, procedural memory is what allows an individual to execute the action smoothly and without needing to think about each step actively. Thus, procedural memory is the correct response for this question.