Bike to Work Day Recap

You pedaled. You rocked. You rolled. We’re talking about the downtown Bethesda Bike to Work Day pit stop.

Fun: The May 15 event (on a first-ever Thursday) brought hundreds of cycling fans to Woodmont Avenue near Bethesda Avenue and the Capital Crescent Trail from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for free refreshments, an entertaining DJ, speeches from dignitaries, and of course a commemorative Bike to Work Day t-shirt — this year in fire-engine red.

Photos Galore: Thanks to pro photographer Daniel Peck for again bringing his talents to the task of capturing tons of images during our festivities. You can scroll through them here.

County Support: Officials from Montgomery County read a proclamation from County Executive Marc Elrich lauding Bike to Work Day and congratulating the 396 cyclists who had registered to attend the Bethesda pit stop. There were 14 pit stops within Montgomery County, and MCDOT sponsored eight of them.

Bike Drawing Winners: Griffin Cycle donated a Marin Fairfax 1 bicycle for our grand prize drawing.

Tasty Refreshments: Bethesda Bagels donated bagels, Eat The Change gave out Just Ice Tea, Drink More Water donated H2O, and Silver supplied parfaits and coffee. Attendees also feasted on fresh fruit, cookies and granola bars.

Didn’t Get Your Shirt? If you registered for Bike to Work Day but did not receive a t-shirt at the event, please feel free to stop by our Bethesda Urban Partnership office (7700 Old Georgetown Road, Lobby Level) to pick one up. The best days to come by are Wednesdays through Fridays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Questions? Email Kristen Blackmon at Kblackmon@bethesda.org.

Thank You, Sponsors! We had 21 sponsors, who donated great prizes, food and beverages, or had a table at the downtown Bethesda pit stop. They included (listed alphabetically):

Each issue of our newsletter for the next few months will highlight various Bike to Work Day pit stop table sponsors who were at the event. This month, we feature Griffin Cycle, WABA and Ride On.

Griffin Cycle: Huge thanks to Griffin Cycle for donating a Marin Fairfax 1 bike for our drawing and for providing bike maintenance checks during the pit stop. Make the most of summer weather with two-wheeled trips along the scenic Capital Crescent Trail on a rented bike from Griffin Cycle. Helmets and locks are included in the rental. Got your own bike but want to get it in top shape for summer adventures? You’ll find mechanics on site at Griffin seven days a week for service and repairs. Visit GriffinCycle.com for hours, upcoming deals and special events.

WABA: There would not be a region-wide Bike to Work Day around the DMV without the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). They run the entire event’s online registration, enabling organizations like BTS to know in advance how many cyclists have signed up for each local pit stop. In addition to their annual BTWD labors, WABA also offers bike classes through the end of June.

“WABA had a great time tabling at the Bethesda Bike to Work Day pit stop on May 15th! If you stopped by for a quick snack, information on bike safety, or to join our community of WABA members, thank you for joining us. We loved seeing bicyclists stay safe with the bike lane network in and around the Bethesda Central Business District, and new lanes on Old Georgetown Road.” — Ken Reichmann, Development and Membership Manager, WABA

Ride On: Thanks to Ride On staff for having a table at the downtown Bethesda pit stop. Cycling is such a natural fit with public transportation. It was great to have Ride On present educating participants about how to leverage Montgomery County’s bus network for convenient and eco-friendly mobility. Ride On reps were also able to provide Bethesda commuters and residents advance notice of the bus changes coming on June 29.

Congratulations to Jennifer Longsworth, who received the Bethesda Bicycle Commuter Spirit “Golden Gear” Award during our BTWD pit stop on May 15.

While this award usually goes to an avid bike commuter employed in downtown Bethesda, this year we shifted gears to celebrate an amazingly loyal and enthusiastic Bike to Work Day participant from our area.

Jennifer, a Chevy Chase resident, has an annual passion project when Bike to Work Day rolls around. Each year, she does double duty, coming to our Bethesda event but then departing early to lead a convoy of cyclists to the Freedom Plaza pit stop in D.C. — so they can get there in time before that event ends.

Sounds great, right? But here’s what makes Jennifer’s devotion all the more impressive: She has been volunteering for WABA as a bike convoy leader since 1983!

In Jennifer’s words: “Before the [Capital Crescent] trail was built, we left from Glen Echo and rode down MacArthur Boulevard. It was an unusual site to see cyclists on the road at rush hour. We eventually were able to start in Bethesda, but had to find a way downtown until the trestle over Canal Road was completed, a mere two weeks after Bike to Work Day in 2003. So finally in 2004, we could ride the whole trail, but had to be careful of the tracks still on Water Street! We've come a long way.”

Jennifer says that she does not bike to work as regularly as she used to, but the Bike to Work Day event gives her the motivation to start back up each year.

What does she like about Bike to Work Day? “It's great to see some of the same riders every year and get to know new ones,” Jennifer said. “Bicyclists have a great camaraderie with each other.”

She added: “[Biking has] become a much more accepted way to commute, especially now that there are electric bikes and plenty of bike lanes and bike paths — like the CCT. In fact, before the CCT was built, I would commute on Massachusetts Avenue. I can't imagine doing that now!”

She noted that there were no bike lanes to use in the 1980s and 90s. Sometimes a sidewalk was the only option. Unfortunately, at that time there were no ADA-mandated curb ramps, she recalled, making rolling off of curbs a jarring experience.

Her 40+ years of leading cyclist convoys have given Jennifer some helpful tips she shares with other two-wheeled travelers:

And, after all these decades of participation, what do you suppose Jennifer likes most about Bike to Work Day? The swag!

“I love the t-shirts,” she says. “I had to get rid of a few in order to fit them in my dresser!”

WABA Bike Classes

Wish you could have participated in Bike to Work Day or joined your family for a cruise down the Capital Crescent Trail — but didn’t feel comfortable or confident on two wheels? These classes are for you!

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) partners with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to offer adult bike and e-scooter classes throughout the spring and fall each year.

Unfortunately, all of the June classes appear to be sold out, but check the WABA website to join a wait list.

The classes in Montgomery County are open to residents 18 and over, and are limited to 25 people. They fill up quickly. (More WABA regional locations here.)

(WABA also offered a class right here in Bethesda last month. Check out these photos of the fun.)