Welcome! Let’s make your first Bike to Work Day experience easy and fun. If you’ve never commuted by bicycle before, you may not be feeling super confident. That’s normal.
No worries. We have tips and resources to help you stay tall in the saddle. There will be thousands of other commuters joining in for the first time just like you.
So c’mon! We know you’re ready for the challenge—and you’ll be proud of yourself for doing it.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Before you head out for a ride, here are some important safety tips and advice that will help boost your confidence, riding enjoyment, and ease you into bicycle commuting.
- Protect yourself – Always wear your helmet.
- Get a tune up – Keep your bike in good working condition.
- Stay visible – Wear bright clothing or reflective accessories.
- Know the law – Headlights are required by law for night riding, and taillights are a good addition.
- Do a trial run – Find a good route and see how long it takes.
- Go with a friend – You can go solo or find a coworker who lives nearby to commute with.
- Split the ride – If your commute is too long for bicycling or you want to gradually build confidence and stamina, consider riding part way. You could pedal to the nearest Metro or commuter rail station (MARC, VRE) and take your bike aboard, or drive part of the way and ride the rest.
RIDING IN THE RAIN
Rainy weather happens! Follow these practical tips from the League of American Bicyclists to ensure you arrive safe and sound.
Protect yourself
- Visibility can be limited, so wear bright clothing
- Wear waterproof clothing that is breathable with layers underneath
Protect your bike
- Front and rear fenders will keep you and your bike dry
- Lube your chain before and/or after a wet ride to replace the lube that washed off
- Drip chain lube down into your brake and shifter cables to avoid rust
Cornering
- Make your turns slowly
- If you need to brake during a turn, apply the brakes slowly
Braking
- Water on the rims will make it harder to stop
- Apply the brakes lightly to clean off the rims before you need to stop
- Allow a greater distance for stopping
Hazards
- Bridges, metal grates, and painted lines and crosswalks can be very slick
- Avoid puddles as they may contain deep potholes
- During the first few minutes of rain, oil seeps from the roadway making it slick
COMMUNITY HIGH FIVES
Wow, what an amazing event! Thanks for setting it up! Had a great time and appreciated all the goodies! Thanks!
Luke Mihalovic
Hi, I’ve participated in every Bike to Work Day since 2002. Always a great experience and a good reminder that biking is doable – challenging, but doable – in the D.C. suburbs. Thank you for the T-shirt and water bottle! And thank you to all who make this happen, and do all the hard work behind the scenes and during the day at the pit stops to make it a great experience, that I will do again next year!
Tom Dickinson
This is my second year doing this, as before, thank you very much for BTWD! Cheers!
Rich
Hello I really enjoy bike to work day, several of us work at the University and either ride together or meet up at the stop to say hello and get a photo. It is really nice of you all to put this together for us 🙂 and thank you for the food and bike repairs. They’re AWESOME! Thank you again!
Linda Rossi
Just a short note to say thanks for all the planning and work that went into BTWD. This year was the first time I participated. Colleagues at work participated last year and had talked about what a great event it is. The pit stop in College Park was nice and, conveniently for me, was located at about the halfway point between my house in North Laurel and work. I stopped, had a cup of coffee and some fruit, chatted a bit with folks there, and then continued on my way. The 27-mile ride from home to work was pleasant, and I felt more relaxed at work after the two hour ride than after my usual 45 minute drive on I-95 and the Beltway. I felt the same way in the evening after the ride home. I am planning to bicycle to work one day a week through the summer. If it had not been for BTWD as a motivator, I’m not sure I would have seriously considered bicycling to work on a regular basis.
Michael Ratcliffe
It was a great sight to see the first-ever pit stop in Greenbelt for the National Bike to Work Day. And my ride with the convoy to College Park pit stop was also enjoyable, as was the time there. I have been biking (and using public transit) to work since 1981, and it is most reassuring how bicycling accommodations are improving.
Bill Norwood