Ditch your car for a day — May 17 is Bike to Work Day in the DMV, and there are lots of resources throughout NoVA to help cyclists of all levels of experience participate.
Bike to Work Day is a joint effort from Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association to get residents of the DC area to dust off their bikes and ride to work, a move that both promotes a healthy lifestyle and reduces the area’s carbon footprint.
During the annual event, there will be more than 100 pit stops set up throughout the region where participating riders can stop by for water, snacks, and giveaways. The first 16,000 participants to register online and visit a pit stop will receive a free Bike to Work Day T-shirt.
Also keep an eye out for other pop-ups and events along the way. In Falls Church, Rumble Boxing will host a pop-up with Little Miner Taco offer a complimentary boxing lesson and free tacos on the W&OD Trail from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the corner of Founders and Park avenues.
In NoVA, there are seven registered pit stops in Alexandria, seven in Arlington, 27 in Fairfax County, three in Loudoun County, and nine in Loudoun County. Check the event website for a full list of pit stops.
For those who are more comfortable riding in a group, there are several convoys throughout the area to help with the ride. There are two in NoVA. One starts in Alexandria at 7 a.m. and rides all the way to Foggy Bottom. Another leaves Georgetown and travels into Tysons, taking the W&OD for the majority of the ride.
Riders are free to join or leave convoys at any point — just hop on the route when they pass a convenient location and peel off when you need to go a different direction.
Before you ride to work, be sure to brush up on your knowledge of Virginia’s bike laws and safety practices, and check your bike to ensure it’s in safe, working order. If you don’t have a bike but still want to participate, consider picking up a rental from one of the Capital Bikeshare locations throughout the region.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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