May 20, 2011
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections invites you to join thousands of area commuters for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work! Meet up with your neighbors at one of 50 regional pit stops, ride to work with an experienced commuter convoy and wear your FREE Bike to Work Day t-shirt at work with pride. Help the Washington region become a better place to ride. Bike to Work Day is a FREE event and open to all area commuters. There will be a raffle prizes, food, drink and more at all pit stops throughout the region.

Bike To Work Day a Huge Success!!

Thousands of bicyclists turned out to celebrate Bike to Work Day 2009 at locations in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Over 8,000 people signed up to participate in advance of the event, which set a new record for registrations.

The annual event, sponsored jointly by Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, promotes bicycling as a healthy, low-cost and environmentally-friendly alternative to drive-alone commuting.

"Thank you for bicycling to work today for your health and for the environment," D.C. Councilmember At-Large and COG President Phil Mendelson told participants assembled at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington D.C. "And thank you for making a statement by bicycling to work and showing that there are alternatives to driving."

Several speakers at Freedom Plaza noted the participation of U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu in this year's Bike to Work Day celebration calling it a another positive sign that the new Obama Administration supports bicycling as an important means of transportation. Photos from the Freedom Plaza event in DC can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/waba/.

Including Freedom Plaza, bicyclists gathered at a total of 26 "pit stops" featuring entertainment, food, drinks, and raffles. The raffle prizes included commuter bags, bike locks, bicycles, and other bike-related gadgets and accessories. Experienced WABA volunteers helped lead "commuter convoys" from across the area to Freedom Plaza and other pit stop destinations. Convoy leaders assisted participants with safe riding and equipment tips as well as showing riders the best route to their destination.

For more information about WABA, visit http://www.waba.org. To learn more about Commuter Connections, visit http://www.commuterconnections.org.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) creates a healthy, more livable region by promoting bicycling for fun, fitness, and affordable transportation; advocating for better bicycling conditions and transportation choices for a healthier environment; and educating children, adults, and motorists about safe bicycling.

Commuter Connections is a program of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and is funded by the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Departments of Transportation as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation. Commuter Connections promotes bicycling to work and other alternatives to drive-alone commuting, and provides ridematching for carpools and vanpools and offers the free Guaranteed Ride Home program.