Congrats to Our Walk & Ride Challenge Winners

The 2025 Walk & Ride Challenge drew 83 downtown Bethesda participants who enthusiastically counted their steps. Competition was spirited, with a total of over 13,037,165 steps being walked in Bethesda during the three-week challenge!

The challenge has three grand prize categories: first, second and third place. To determine the winning teams, we tally each team's total steps and divide by the number of members on the team to arrive at each team’s average number of steps.

Without further adieu, here are this year’s top winners:

First Place: Saulmates from BF Saul Company

The members of Saulmates walked an average of 402,147 steps over the three-week period. Each team member will receive a $50 gift card.

Second Place: Heart and Saul from BF Saul Company

The members of Heart and Saul walked an average of 314,641 steps over the three-week period. Each team member will receive a $35 gift card.

Third Place: Saul Stars from BF Saul Company

The members of Saul Stars walked an average of 218,651 steps over the three-week period. Each team member will receive a $25 gift card.

In addition to the grand prize winners, participants who logged at least 10,000 steps in a week were entered into random weekly drawings to win e-gift cards from BTS. Other fun photo contests took place during the three week event. 

Questions? Contact Kristen Blackmon at BTS (301-656-0868 x119 or KBlackmon@bethesda.org).

Plan Ahead for Metrorail Work

Your commute might be affected by one or both of the following Metrorail system construction projects planned for this winter and next summer.

The summer 2026 project will disrupt Red Line service right here in our corridor, while the winter 2025 work will affect Green Line commuters.

Of course, inconvenient though such work is, it’s all in the interest of a safer, more resilient Metrorail system.

Check the latest track work schedule to stay informed before heading out.

Here are the details:

Winter 2025 Green Line Single Track Between U Street and Georgia Av-Petworth

Summer 2026 Red Line Construction Between Friendship Heights and North Bethesda

Please contact Allison Kemp at BTS (akemp@bethesda.org or 301-301-656-0868 x121) if you need help making other mobility plans during these projects.

Also, register to attend a virtual event, "Metro Message – A Community Conversation" on Wednesday, November 19, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event will include information about Metro construction and other Metro related news.

Debbie Low (far right) greets visitors to one of her lobbies at a recent Commuter Information Day.

BTS offers a huge thank-you to Debbie Low as she retires as property manager at 7600 and 7700 Wisconsin Avenue. Debbie managed those office buildings for 33 years. BTS worked with her for the past two decades to schedule Commuter Information Day events in her buildings’ lobbies.

Debbie is well known to other property managers as well as many employers and commuters in downtown Bethesda. She will be missed by all.

Debbie was not only helpful and quick to schedule commuter events in the two buildings, she would usually even be there in person to welcome BTS and visiting commuters at each event. Through her assistance and warmth as a gracious host, she has helped countless commuters over the years.

While Debbie has stepped away from her distinguished property management career, she leaves a legacy in downtown Bethesda that we hope other managers will aspire to uphold — by inviting the employers and commuters in their buildings to regular Commuter Information Days.

Please contact Allison Kemp at BTS to schedule a free building lobby event, office benefits fair, or other employee mobility gathering. There is no charge for the information and prizes. Simply email AKemp@bethesda.org or call 301-656-0868 ext. 121.

Mark your calendar for BTS’s next event: the Cool Commute Contest. The event starts on January 2, 2026.

You might recall that BTS used to start this event in December. This time, however, as we did last year, we’re syncing up with all transportation management districts in Montgomery County and holding it in January and February.

Watch for more details in our December newsletter.

MCDOT Commuter Services held a free webinar last month on creating a commute-friendly workplace. View the presentation slides to discover:

Contact Kristen Blackmon at BTS (301-656-0868 x119 or KBlackmon@bethesda.org) with questions.