Tuesday, Aug. 18 marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Celebrate the historic legislation and the local women behind it by traveling through Alexandria with the Women’s History Bike Ride.
The history-filled bike ride will take place the morning of Saturday, Aug. 15, with staggered start times at 7:30, 8 and 8:30 a.m. This free outdoor event consists of a 14-mile bike ride through Alexandria, and riders can decide to bike all or part of the ride.
While on the course, participants will stop at numerous historical sites that are associated with Alexandrian heroines and suffragists of the past. Some of these locations include the Lloyd House, the Minnie Howard campus and the Kate Waller Barrett Library.
“This ride will be a fun way to learn about some of the trailblazing women who helped shape Alexandria over the centuries,” said Josephine Liu, the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) vice chair for bicyclists. “We’ll celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment by highlighting Alexandrians who were active in the suffrage movement, and we’ll also talk about notable Alexandrian women who served in government.”
The event organizers are encouraging participants to wear suffrage-era costumes or the American suffrage colors of purple, white and gold. Riders can also decorate their bikes in those colors to show their support during the ride.
Since the bike ride is happening during the age of COVID-19, there are plenty of safety precautions that are in place to keep all riders safe. Before arriving at the event, riders should self-screen and stay at home if they are experiencing any symptoms. The bike ride will also occur in small groups of 10 riders or less to ensure social distancing while on the road. Participants will need to sign a waiver before the ride.
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