Exercise and Have Fun on Bike to Work Day, May 15
Parting with tradition, the event shifts from Friday to Thursday
ALEXANDRIA, VA-Dust off that bicycle. Adjust your helmet and brakes. Bike to Work Day rolls into town on Thursday, May 15. Thousands of commuters across the DMV are gearing up for the annual free bike fest, featuring over 100 pit stops in Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland.
For the first time, the event has been moved to Thursday instead of the traditional Friday. “So many commuters work from home on Friday,” Morgan Babcock, executive director of Carlyle Council, told The Zebra. “So the decision was made to choose a day when more riders would be commuting to their offices.”
Carlyle Council hosts one of the largest pit stops in Alexandria.
Bike to Work Day is a joint project of Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. It both promotes a healthy lifestyle and reduces the area’s carbon footprint.
Spin by any of six pit stops across the city and grab a free t-shirt, hot coffee, food, and raffle prizes. Market Square and Carlyle will host two stages with live DJs, free giveaways, and appearances by Mayor Alyia Gaskins, city transportation and environmental leaders, and top representatives from various bike organizations.
If your bike needs a quick fix, Handy Bikes will provide free repairs at John Carlyle Square Park.
Ken Notis is an economist with USDOT. He also chairs the Alexandria Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), an organization that promotes safe bicycling and walking. As a federal worker, Notis is now required to commute to the office five days a week. He can be seen pedaling to work almost every weekday, biking 21 miles a day round trip
Notis and BPAC advocate for better infrastructure and policy changes to create a safer bicycling commute. He emphasizes that safety is paramount, following a collision last month that left a cyclist critically injured.
“While I am pleased with the progress the city has made the last few years towards a connected safe bike network, and also towards safer conditions for walkers, there is still a long way to go,” he said in an interview with The Zebra. “ While we do not yet know the cause of the crash you mention, ironically it happened at a location where safety improvements have been approved but not yet implemented.”
Eager to join other bike commuters but unsure of your skills? The Washington Area Bicyclists Association offers classes at all levels to build confidence and expertise.
Register for Bike to Work Day at biketoworkmetrodc.org/register and get your free t-shirt. This year’s shirt color is red. The Zebra will be covering several Alexandria pit stops, bringing you full coverage of the day’s events.
