You Can Be a Cyclist
Biking can be a safe and convenient form of transportation to work, shops and restaurants – and it’s often faster than driving or taking transit. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s (WABA) Website offers loads of great resources for all levels of biking experience.
- Basics of City Riding – From “rules of the road” to reporting a crash, this page is an excellent primer on biking in the Washington region.
- Cycling Classes – WABA offers classes for youths and adults on bicycle education – even classes on how to ride a bike. Many classes are free or as little as $10.
- How to Put Your Bike On a Bus – Knowing how to transport your bike using the bus system will give you even more flexibility with how you get around the region.
- Bike Laws – Bike laws may vary, so whether you live in D.C., Maryland or Virginia, this page will help you be a safe and lawful cyclist.
If you’re not sure of the best route to take, Google, MapMyRide and Rails to Trailsall offer bike routing tools to help you find the best way to travel. Bike Washington also offers information on the area’s trails, bike routes, and information about commuting.
Bike to Work – No, Really.
We know that the prospect of biking to work in D.C. area traffic can be intimidating, but if you follow the rules of the road and use the resources above, it can actually be fun! It costs less than other modes, allows you to get a workout on the way to and from work, generates no pollution and means one less car on our congested roads.
Unfortunately, it can also be sweaty. One option is to ride slower. If your workplace doesn’t currently provide showers or storage space for your bike, talk to your employer about adding these amenities. If they’re hesitant about the cost, just show them the numbers:
- Save Money on Healthcare – According to a study of nearly 200,000 General Motors employees, overweight individuals cost $1,500 more on average per year in healthcare than those of healthy weight.1
- Reduce Parking Costs – One paved parking space can cost $2,000 to construct, more than $15,000 if the space is located in a garage, and even more when land costs, design/planning and operations are factored in.2 These costs are passed on to the company in the building lease.
- Reduce Parking Space – In addition, one of these spaces can hold 6-20 bicycles, as opposed to just one car.3 Fewer employees requiring spaces means fewer spaces to construct or lease.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and Bike Arlington also provide resources for employers on the ease and importance of encouraging bike commuting. If you live in the Baltimore area, check out the Metropolitan Council's resources on cycling for employees and employers. If you live or work in Alexandria, go to a BikeWalk Alexandria meeting to find out how you can help with bicycle and pedestrian intiatives in Alexandria.
Available Resources
Still Not Convinced? Give It a Try.
If you’re still not sure biking is for you, try it for one week. You don’t even have to own a bike. Arlington and D.C. have joined together to form Capital BikeShare, a program that makes it easy to rent a bike for a daily, monthly or annual fee. Bike sharing is super convenient, too – no need to carry a lock or worry about the bike while you’re in a meeting. Current plans call for over 1,000 bicycles and 110 locations in D.C. and Arlington. Further expansion into Maryland is being planned.
Many bike stores rent bikes, too: Bike and Roll, Revolution Cycles, Big Wheelbikes and Oasis Bike Works are just a few examples. WABA also has a comprehensive list of bike shops in D.C. and nearby Maryland and Virginia. A lot of bike stores also do rides for beginners and experts – it's a great way to learn more about cycling for fun or for work.
If you’re wondering how much you’d really save by biking to work, use Kiplinger’s cost effectiveness calculator to find out.
Our Progress in the Region
We’d love to make the Washington region the most sustainable area in the country. In order to achieve this goal, much of our work focuses on investing in more transportation options, including bicycles. Here are some bicycle needs we advocated for in the past:
- Including bike lanes and facilities as part of the new plan for Tysons Corner
- A petition for a bus/bike only lane on 16th Street, which has collected over 550 signatures
- Inclusion of bike lanes and other bike facilities as part of the Loudoun County Transportation Plan
- Revamp D.C.’s zoning code to include secure and accessible bicycle parking and shower/ changing facilities
It takes sustained involvement by all of us to ensure that bicycle and pedestrian transportation needs are addressed. We partner with great local groups like WABA, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling and Safe Routes to School. Be sure to give them your support.
1http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/why/health.php
2http://www.vtpi.org/tca/tca0504.pdf
3http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/why/environment.php
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