At a glance
The Walk & Ride Challenge is a fall contest to see how Bethesda-based employees can build walking into their daily routine by trying alternative commute modes.
When: October 12 to 30, 2026 (three weeks)
Who: teams of three to five people
What: log your steps on the Walk & Ride website
Prizes: awarded each week, with e-gift cards for everyone on the top three teams
How to sign up
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- Pick a Team Captain.
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Captain: create the team. Go to the Montgomery County Walk & Ride website. Select Non-County: Sign up / Sign in and create an account and sign up in the area where your employer's office is located. Enter the office address in the search field at the top right to find it.
- Then use Captain Registration to create the team.
- Captain: invite teammates. Share the captain's invitation link.
- Teammates: join. Each team member signs up and joins using the captain's link.
- Teams have until October 9 to sign up.
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Log your steps starting October 12. Use your own fitness tracker or phone, and enter your steps regularly on the website. If you have questions, please contact Kristen Blackmon at KBlackmon@bethesda.org or 301-656-0868, ext. 119.
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Taking a Walk: The Benefit of Walking Nobody Tells You |
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This past summer, while walking through my aunt Arliene's suburban Philadelphia neighborhood, I noticed something: how boring it was. There was no lively downtown with restaurants and shops, just the same Levittown-style homes no matter which street I turned onto or how far I walked. That's the reality for most Americans, but coming from Bethesda, it was a shock.
Here, any time I want, I can lace up my sneakers, walk down Wisconsin Avenue, and expect to see something interesting, from a new restaurant to try to a talented street performer serenading passerbys. It took seeing how most people live for me to realize how lucky we are. In Bethesda, we can open our doors every morning and find something we didn't notice the day before. It doesn't have to be something big like a new coffee shop opening on Bethesda Avenue. Even something small, like a RideOn bus operator smiling as you board the bus, can make your day.
Bethesda's Week Without Driving runs from October 1 to 8. Don't think of it as a reason to set your alarm earlier. Think of it as a chance to look around and notice what a great place we live in. It's easy to fall into a routine and go on autopilot, especially in the morning. But whether you're walking, biking, or riding the bus, there's a lot more to see. You just have to look for it.
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Max Weiner is a Bethesda, Maryland high school student. He has a passion for all things cities, especially how urban planning and policy influence other aspects of peoples lives.
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October Means Walktober in Maryland |
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It's October, a great time to celebrate Walktober with the Maryland Department of Transportation! Here are some important dates to note:
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- October 7 — Walk Maryland Day: Celebrate Maryland’s official state exercise by leading or joining a walk. Register Here
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October 7 — Walk and Roll to School Day: Join the national celebration of walking and rolling to school by planning an event with your school, family, or community. Click here to register for Walk and Roll to School Day or to see if your community's school is planning to participate.
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October 8, 1 - 2:30 p.m. — Walkinar: Connection: Building Equity Through Community-Centered Transportation - This virtual Walkinar will explore how pedestrian infrastructure, community voice, equity, and environmental justice shape transportation planning and decision-making. Register Here
- October 15 — Walktober Power Hour - Take a lunch-hour walk or roll and see how far you can go in one hour. Aim for at least one mile, then log your steps.
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October 22, 1 - 2:30 p.m. — Walkinar: Technology and Innovation in Pedestrian Safety - Speakers will explore how AI, LiDAR, mapping, data, performance metrics, and accessibility-focused technology can help agencies better understand pedestrian needs and make safer, more informed transportation decisions. Register Here
- October 29, 1 - 2:30 p.m. — Secretaries Panel Discussion - Join Maryland leaders for a virtual discussion on walking, rolling, safety, active transportation, and connected communities. Registration Coming Soon!
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Stop by the BTS Tent at Taste of Bethesda: October 3
Bethesda Transportation Solutions staff will be at Taste of Bethesda on Saturday, October 3, 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. Stop by, speak with us and pick up some helpful information and a prize!
Donate a Bike: October 16
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Annual Bike Drive is scheduled for Friday, October 16. Donated bikes should be in ready-to-ride condition. MCDOT staff will collect bikes and parts (no bike helmets) between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. outside the Council Office Building parking garage located at the corner of East Jefferson and Monroe streets in Rockville. Some donated bicycles will be refurbished and distributed through BikeMatchMoCo, which offers free bikes to those in need.
Take a Bicycle Class: October 18
Register to take an adult Learn to Ride class in downtown Bethesda on Sunday, October 18, 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. at the Farm Women's Market parking lot off Wisconsin Avenue. At the Montgomery County Department of Transportation class, certified Washington Area Bicyclist Association instructors will teach adults to ride a bicycle. Details about all of the bike classes are here.
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