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Council Seeks Input on Pedestrian Master Plan
The Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 25, 1:30–2:30 p.m., to get feedback on the Pedestrian Master Plan recently adopted by the Planning Board. The deadline to sign up to speak is Monday, July 24, at 2 p.m.
How to Participate: You can attend the hearing live in person or via Zoom. You can also submit written, audio or video testimony.
Why You Should Comment: Walking and “rolling” (as the County calls cycling and wheelchair use) are central to downtown Bethesda’s success and unique sense of place. The ability to cross streets, use sidewalks, and traverse trails — safely — is vital to reducing our reliance on cars and to maintaining a high quality of life.
Inclusive: Nearly four years in the making, the plan was developed with particular attention to pedestrians who have vision and/or mobility issues. According to the Planning Board, it recommends design treatments and policies that exceed basic Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
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Bike to Work Day Sponsor Spotlight
Each issue of our newsletter for the last few months has highlighted several Bike to Work Day pit stop table sponsors who were at the event. This month, we feature BellRinger, Terrapin Bicycles, and The St. James Performance Club Bethesda.
BellRinger
- “BellRinger unites a community dedicated to ending cancer. We enjoyed meeting all of the riders passing through Bethesda on Bike to Work Day. This was a great opportunity for our team to support local cyclists while spreading the word about BellRinger 2023 as we plan for our second annual ride this October.” – Chris Timko, Executive Director, BellRinger.
- BellRinger Weekend: Our second annual BellRinger Weekend ride will be October 20–21! With three routes of 25, 50, and 100 miles, we will start at Georgetown University and ride up into scenic Maryland.
- Training Rides: We also have two training rides in July. One was on July 8 in Rock Creek Park. The other is July 23 in Navy Yard. You don't have to be a registered rider to come and join us, so we encourage anyone who is interested to come out for the fun! See details about each ride here, and check back for more as the summer progresses.
Terrapin Bicycles
- Terrapin Bicycles was very excited to participate in Bike to Work Day! We love being part of the cycling community and getting new people of all ages on bicycles. It's great for exercise, transportation and FUN! We supported both the downtown Bethesda stop as well as the NIH Campus Stop in Bethesda that morning.
- Community: Terrapin Bicycles is locally owned and operated right here in MoCo. We are happy to serve people just getting started all the way to enthusiasts or semi-professional cyclists as well! We are the only shop in the area that has a strong focus on both high performance road and mountain biking. We are a proud supporter of community groups, such as the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), as well as a local race team (NCVC), and other events like the Just Tryan It kids’ triathlon, right here in Bethesda!
- Camaraderie: Come on in and take a look at our wide selection of bikes, have a craft beer while watching cycling on the TV, or pick up some of our very own, home-roasted coffee!
The St. James Performance Club Bethesda
- The St. James Performance Club Bethesda participated in Bike to Work Day to show solidarity with Bethesda Urban Partnership’s mission. The Bethesda Urban Partnership continuously creates an amazing environment and awesome events for our community, and we feel it is important to show our appreciation and participate in any way possible, especially when their events are aligned with our mission of health and wellness.
- Open House: On Wednesday, July 19, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., we will be hosting an open house for non-members to come and try a class and see our facilities. Please RSVP here.
- Sound Bath: Sunday, July 23, we are hosting a therapeutic and restorative “sound bath” class, which will be open to the public from 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please RSVP here.
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Lucky Lodging Industry Man Wins Bike Raffle
Chris Eckstein, Vice President, Investments at Host Hotels & Resorts in downtown Bethesda, was the lucky winner of a BTS gift certificate to Bethesda’s Terrapin Bicycles.
Chris was the second winner of BTS’s Bike to Work Day bike raffle, randomly selected based on the total registration list for the downtown Bethesda pit stop. This was his first Bike to Work Day, made all the more special by meeting up with some of his co-workers for a group commute.
At first, he wasn’t quite sure the email from BTS letting him know he’d won was real. “I thought, ‘Is this a scam?’,” he laughed. But he quickly discovered his win was legit. “I’m glad I participated at this year’s Bike to Work event and am very fortunate to win the big prize. The energy amongst the participants and vendors on the morning of the event was contagious. It has inspired me to get on the bike more often and sign up for future biking events in the area.”
Chris happens to be the father of three little cyclists who love joining him and his wife for weekend rides along the Bethesda Trolley Trail. Those rides have Chris on his 10-year-old Trek trail bike and his wife on the vintage Gary Fisher mountain bike her biking-enthusiast dad gave her years ago. “I’m usually the guy with the big orange flag up on the trailer and flashers on the kids’ helmets.”
The gift certificate will enable him to look at upgrading his kids’ bikes, especially for the oldest. “He’ll be due for his first serious bike with all the gears on his birthday this fall,” said Chris.
Fortunately, he had the skilled technicians from Terrapin look over his own bike at their booth on Bike to Work Day. Their diagnosis inspired him to take it in for an overhaul that will keep him rolling along in good form during his half-hour commutes into downtown Bethesda from his North Bethesda neighborhood.
Chris, who has been with Host Hotels & Resorts for about five years, said the company has made bike commuting a breeze, thanks to its decision to intentionally locate to a walking- and cycling-friendly place like downtown Bethesda — specifically in the recently constructed, office tower at 4747 Bethesda Avenue. The Bethesda Metro Station and Capital Crescent Trail are both conveniently located nearby. And the building includes what Chris describes as “a very nice locker room, gym facility and indoor bike lockup area” — which come in especially handy after pedaling during the summer months.
“When I bike to the office, I take the Bethesda Trolley Trail and take advantage of the new bike lanes along Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues,” he said. “It is good to see the area making investments in biking infrastructure to help diversify from the normal car commute.”
Host and office developer JBG SMITH’s collaborative emphasis on biking, fitness amenities, and commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability leadership helped earn its office at 4747 Bethesda Avenue two certifications: LEED Gold for Interior Design + Construction by the U.S. Green Building Council and Fitwel® Multi-Tenant Whole Building Certification.
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