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Walk & Ride Registration Ends October 13
The clock is ticking toward the deadline for Bethesda area employees to register for the Walk & Ride Challenge. You have until 5:00 p.m. on October 13 to sign up.
But the best time to do it is right now, because there are a few steps to go through to complete the process.
Step 1: Visit the Walk & Ride Challenge website at: https://eps-portal-dev.powerappsportals.us/.
Step 2: Select the "Bethesda Transportation Solutions" logo if your company is located in downtown Bethesda.
Step 3: Register yourself as Team Captain in the new system by entering your email and a password. (You enter your information in a sign-up page and a profile page, then you go to "Captain Registration" at the top to select "Bethesda" and name your team.)
Step 4: Next, recruit a team of three to five coworkers or friends (including the Captain) for the Walk & Ride Challenge. Your team will compete against others in downtown Bethesda. The Captain will go to the "My Team Roster Page" tab (at the top menu) and use the "Open Invitation Link" button to invite a Team Member. You will use the "Open Invitation Link" button to invite each Team Member.
Step 5: Finally, the Team Members receive an email with instructions and a link to register in the Sign Up and Profile pages. The Team Member should then see a page with the specific team name to sign up for that team. The "Team Roster" tab should show the Captain and Team Member names as everyone is added to the team.
Step 6: Have fun! The Challenge starts October 16.
Questions? Contact BTS Director Kristen Blackmon at KBlackmon@bethesda.org.
BTS website
Your Safety Is Priority #1

Whether you’re competing in the Walk & Ride Challenge, stroller-jogging with your kids, or just running nearby errands, your safety as a pedestrian or cyclist is vital. Here are three noteworthy news items to be especially aware of this month.
New “Safe Streets” Law Signed
County Executive Marc Elrich signed the Safe Streets Act of 2023 on September 27 at an event in downtown Bethesda. The law, passed unanimously by the County Council on September 19, aims to make streets safer for both pedestrians and bicyclists.
“I see more people doing more wrong and illegal things than I ever saw before [the pandemic],” Elrich said during the event, Montgomery Community Media reported.
According to the County’s September 19 announcement of the bill’s passage, 19 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed and 541 people were seriously injured on Montgomery County roads in 2022. So far in 2023, there have already been 11 fatalities and 404 injuries involving pedestrians and cyclists.
Council President Evan Glass, who championed the legislation, said: “The United States has the highest rate of roadway incidents in the developed world. This legislation will put us on a safer path.”
The new law:
  • Prioritizes pedestrians by enhancing walk times at crosswalks.
  • Prohibits “right turn on red” at busy intersections in downtown areas.
  • Creates safer routes to school and requires infrastructure reviews following incidents in school zones, walksheds and bus stops.
“Pedestrian and cyclist safety is central to the quality of life here in downtown Bethesda,” said BTS Director Kristen Blackmon. “Our staff at BTS is always eager to collaborate with local employers, multi-tenant residences and others in educating audiences about the importance of safety in mobility alternatives.”
It’s Walktober in Maryland
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and partner agencies and organizations are spotlighting Maryland pedestrians' safety, health and commuting options via events and free webinars around the state this month, which they’ve dubbed Walktober.
Webinars (aka Walkinars) are being held throughout Walktober, each of which is tailored to a particular audience: pedestrian enthusiasts, advocates, planners and residents. Webinar topics include:
  • Learning how walking is an easy and accessible exercise.
  • How to safely use pedestrian infrastructure.
  • How to incorporate walking into your daily routines.
For the Walkinar schedule, visit MDOT’s Walktober resources web page, which also includes a variety of helpful videos.
Be Aware While You Walk
The fall season always increases pedestrian and cyclist safety risks, as sunset comes earlier and earlier each day leading up to the winter solstice in December.
Darker commute hours tend to make everyone along roadways harder to see. So, drivers need to exercise even greater caution — and walkers, runners and cyclists must be extra aware and extremely mindful while moving about.
A few reminders to all pedestrians, scooter users and cyclists:
  • Never assume you can be seen.
  • Always wear light-colored or — even better — reflective clothing or accessories to help motorists and other roadway users spot you.
  • Never insist on the right of way. Crossing a street is not a contact sport. Use courtesy, caution and common sense.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation maintains a treasure trove of online resources — links, videos and downloads — about pedestrian and cyclist safety. Check them out today!
Questions? Contact Kristen Blackmon at BTS (301-656-0868 x119 or Kblackmon@bethesda.org).

Ride On Reimagined Seeks Your Feedback
Montgomery County’s public transit network is poised for change, and the County wants your input. An initiative called Ride On Reimagined includes a number of opportunities for you to hear about proposed concept changes and share your feedback.
Ride On Reimagined is a comprehensive reassessment, studying how the transit system — including Ride On, Metro Bus and Rail, and the future Purple Line — will operate. It’s a future-focused look at the whole public transportation system in the county.
You can learn more and weigh in during County-hosted “pop-up events” throughout this month. (Three of the eight pop-ups were scheduled prior to this newsletter hitting the wires, but five more chances remain.)
The Ride On Reimagined web page also includes a form you can use to offer feedback; or you can simply email your comments to rideon.reimagined@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Ride On Reimagined does not affect the Bethesda Circulator, which serves downtown Bethesda. For questions or to give feedback on that service, contact Kristen Blackmon at BTS (301-656-0868 x119 or Kblackmon@bethesda.org).
“Thank You, Brandan!”
Brandan Stuckey is leaving his post here at BTS — but he won’t be far away. He has accepted a new role with Montgomery County government as “Urban Services Manager for Downtown Bethesda and the Pike District.”
Honored by the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) in 2022 as one of the transportation demand management profession’s esteemed “40 Under 40,” Brandan has been a member of the BTS team since 2019. Brandan was involved in Leadership Montgomery and the Greater Bethesda Chamber's Next Exec Committee.
In its award announcement last year, ACT noted that “Brandan has exhibited outstanding outreach skills since he started at BTS. He is actively involved with employers, business networking groups and government leadership organizations to foster vibrant and productive partnerships with a focus on transportation demand management in downtown Bethesda.”
“I appreciated Brandan’s dedication and creativity while he was here at BTS/BUP,” said BTS Director Kristen Blackmon. “He will certainly be missed, but I am happy he will continue working in the Bethesda area in his new role. We look forward to seeing him at local meetings in the future.”
BTS website
Bethesda Transportation Solutions Better Ways To Work Montgomery County Commuter Services bethesda urban partnership
7700 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814

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