Bike DC and Bike to Work Day
From Capital Bikeshare’s apple-red bikes to 15th St.’s two-way cycle-track, bicyclists are everywhere in Washington, D.C. But there are two events coming up that will put the rest of the year to shame – Bike to Work Day on May 20 and Bike D.C. on May 22.
Organized locally by the Washington Area Bicyclists’ Association, Bike to Work Day is a national event that began in 1956 by the League of American Bicyclists. As the name implies, it’s a day set aside to encourage people to ride their bikes into work. But unlike every other commuting day, Bike to Work Day features 49 different pit stops in the D.C. area alone. At these stops, cyclists can enjoy free food, drinks, and entertainment. As most pit stops open at 7:00 AM and close at 9:30 AM, if your route is lengthy you can even hit up more than one! The area “finish line” is located at Freedom Plaza near the White House and will feature big-wig speakers like U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown, and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff. But suburbanites aren’t left out of the fun – there are pit stops from Frederick, MD down to Fairfax, VA. If you feel uncomfortable riding alone, commuter convoys will depart from a variety of neighborhoods. If your timing doesn’t match up with a convoy, you can use WABA’s cue sheets or Google’s bicycle maps for the area to plan your route. However, as an experienced bicycle commuter, I can say that trying the route beforehand will help minimize the chances of getting lost. To participate in all of the fun, register for free ahead of time with WABA. If you’re one of the first 8,500 to register, you even get a free t-shirt!
What: Bike to Work Day
When: Friday, May 20th, 2011 | All Day
Where: Washington, DC
Who: Everyone!
What’s Next? RSVP and Learn More
If Bike to Work Day focuses on getting to your job, Bike D.C. is all about the pleasures of the weekend. Two days after Bike to Work Day, Bike D.C. participants get to forget about the hassles of traffic and cars. That’s because Bike D.C.’s entire 20 mile route through city streets is forbidden to motorized vehicles. From the freeway of I-66 to the George Washington Memorial Parkway, cyclists can go their own pace while gazing down on iconic sites, including Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon, and the depths of the Potomac River. If 20 miles seems too far, you can always break at a rest stop or take a few shortcuts to bring the route down to 10 miles. The ride starts at 7:30 AM and gives participants a leisurely 3 ½ hours to complete the route. As Bike D.C. is a WABA fundraising event to support bicycle advocacy and education, registration is $35 beforehand or $45 the morning of the event. If you have kids, children 12 and under are free.
Even if you can’t participate in either of these events, biking in D.C. is easier than ever. For short trips, Capital Bikeshare memberships are $5 for a day, $25 for a month or $75 for a year. If you’re more interested in all-day sightseeing, Bike and Roll offers guided city tours. Seeing the city from a bike seat is a unique experience – it provides a new perspective, gets you outdoors, and is a great justification for an ice cream stop!
What: Bike DC
When: Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 | Starts at 7:00 a.m.
Where: National Mall | Washington, DC
Who: The Washington DC & Arlington VA Biking Community
What’s Next? RSVP; Get on yer bike!
Image via Flickr by M.V. Jantzen
Category: HEALTH EVENTS, SPECIAL OCCASION EVENTS
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