2025 Bloom Ride Guide

Ride date: Saturday, April 19, 2025

Picture a leisurely cruise through our vibrant region as the flowers bloom and the air fills with the scents of spring. We’ll be stopping at charming locations across the city and in Northern Virginia, to admire blossoms and soak in the season’s beauty.

Join us for a 20 or 3 mile ride, followed by a post-ride picnic. The event will take place rain or shine.

This ride is a fundraiser. Registration fees support WABA’s work in the DC region and our mission of empowering people to ride bikes, build connections and transform places. Thank you.

Read Ride Guide Content Below:

Quick Links

Event Code of Conduct

Ride Routes — Ride with GPS

Getting There — Check In —

Ride Support — Ride Safety— Ride Marshals —

Pit Stops — Time Limits — Finish Line & After Party

What to Bring — Food and Water —Bathrooms— FAQ

Event Code of Conduct

WABA’s first priority is to provide a fun, inclusive and safe environment for all participants. Below is the Code of Conduct that you commit to when you enter a WABA space. Learn more at old.waba.org/code.

“As a member of the WABA community, I commit to the following whenever I am in a WABA space:

I acknowledge that I exist in a society built on unequal, and unjust power structures. I agree that I have a responsibility to interrogate my privileges and use my power to help make WABA spaces increasingly safe, inclusive, and supportive for everyone.
I acknowledge that WABA has a zero-tolerance policy for racist behavior, sexual harassment, physical or verbal abuse, microaggressions, tokenism, and all other harmful actions. I agree that these actions have no place in a supportive, inclusive community, and to make it a priority to never harm another person in any of these ways.
I acknowledge that my behavior — not my intentions—is what affects the people around me, and that it is possible for me to harass or otherwise harm others even when I don’t mean to. I agree to be respectful, kind, compassionate, and supportive to those around me in both word and in action—and, if someone lets me know that my behavior is harmful, to immediately adjust that behavior with the goal of preventing future harm.
I acknowledge that the work of mitigating the harmful effects of unjust power structures is never done. I agree to take on the responsibility of speaking out against instances of racism, sexism, ableism, and other discrimination or manifestations of prejudice, whenever I have the power to do so.
I acknowledge that if I cannot adjust a behavior that is harming other community members, it makes sense for WABA staff to ask me to leave the community space. I agree that if WABA staff asks me to leave a WABA space because of a Code of Conduct violation, I will do so. “

If you experience a code of conduct violation at the hands of another participant, staff member or volunteer, or witness unjust behaviors by another individual, please notify a WABA staff member.

Ride Routes

The Bloom Ride & Spring Picnic provides the option to take on one of two routes:

Petals and Pedals Route (20 miles)

Discover unexpected sites and gorgeous scenes as you bike and smell the flowers.

Blossom Expedition Route (3 miles)

Seek out a floral display on the National Mall on this family and kid friendly trek!

Route Maps:

Stay tuned for the official routes for this year’s event. *Please note, ride routes are subject to change. .

View 2024 Route Maps
https://ridewithgps.com/collections/2461844

Ride with GPS

To get free RideWithGPS turn-by-turn navigation on your smartphone, you will to do a few things, all pretty easy:

Sign up for a free RideWithGPS account on your web browser and log in. You can close a pop-up that encourages you to sign up for a premium account– unless you want to, don’t input any credit card information!
Join the WABA RideWithGPS club by clicking here while logged into your account on your web browser.
Install the mobile app on your phone and open it. Skip any initial pop-ups or settings prompts and sign in.
On the web browser, go to the ride routes (when available) and it will show you the ride routes in the app. Select the correct route for your ride.
It’s a good idea to click “Save” and then “Download for Offline”.
Click “Navigate” to start the ride.

Already have RidewithGPS and a member of the WABA RidewithGPS Club?

To download gps files to another device:

From the app on your phone:

Open the route on your phone and click the three dots in the upper right corner while you have the route displayed.
Click through to export a GPX file.

On a computer while viewing the route in your web browser:

Click on “More” in the grey box above the route name/title.
Click on “Export as File”.
Select the appropriate file type.

Tips:

Follow all the instructions above. If you do not join the WABA club, you will get pop-ups to prompt you to purchase a paid plan.
Some people opt to wear an ear bud (in one ear) to hear the audio cues. Do this at your own risk– you should be able to hear traffic around you.
Check your settings in the RideWithGPS app. Select “More” at the bottom of the screen, then click on “Settings”. Under “Navigation”, you can ensure you will get audio cues and alerts. “Handlebar Mode” can prompt your phone to wake when nearing turns– this can save on battery.
Check your phone settings. Consider adjusting the brightness of the phone to make it more visible or a dimmer screen can save battery.

Venue/ Getting There

Each ride route starts and finishes at Franklin Park:
1332 I Street NW, Washington DC 20005. map

The venue is conveniently located downtown and generally accessible by bicycle.

It is also accessible within a few blocks by Metro at the McPherson Square Station on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines, the Metro Center Station on the Red Line, and the Mount Vernon Square Station on the Green and Yellow Lines. Keep in mind that Metro opens at 7am on Saturdays.

If you plan to drive, there is some street parking nearby. You should be able to park fairly close, and can plan to ride your bike a short distance to the venue. Consider doing some advance scouting or planning.

Check In

Following is the schedule for checking in and starting each route:

Petals and Pedals Route (20 miles)

Check-in: 9:30am- 10:30am
Group Start: 10:30am
No Drop Groups Start: 10:35am

Blossom Expedition Route (3 miles)

Check in: 10:30am- 11:00am
Group Start: 11:00am

Upon checking in, participants will be given a bracelet. They can then pick up cue sheets and snacks.

Mechanical support will be provided and on-site mechanics will be able to check over your bike and help ensure it is in great shape prior to riding.

Ride Support

The Bloom Ride & Spring Picnic is generally an unsupported ride. This means:

Streets are not closed for this ride. You will ride on streets with motor vehicle traffic.
The route is unmarked.

But, there will be a SAG vehicle patrolling the course. If you are in need of assistance, you can call a WABA hotline which will be posted at the start of the event. Calling this number should be limited to cases of emergency or a stranded participant.

During the ride, we can drive one person at a time and their bike to the metro or ride start (their choice)
The SAG vehicle will have water, snacks, and a first aid kit
The SAG vehicle will be available from the start of the ride to 3:00 pm

Participants are expected to:

Call 911 in case of an emergency.
Have an emergency-contact who is not a ride participant “on call” during the ride.
Carry a charged cell phone (and charged battery pack for the longer rides).

Ride Safety

Ride participants have a responsibility to bicycle safely, respectfully, and lawfully to maximize safety for all trail and road users.

When you are on this ride, you are a representative of WABA.

We ask you to:

Wear a helmet.
Stop at all red lights and stop signs as appropriate. Cyclists can use the leading pedestrian interval at stop lights and yield at stop signs except when others have right of way at the intersection.
Always yield to pedestrians.
Follow posted signs.
Use hand signals when turning.
Communicate verbally with other riders.
Do not ride more than two abreast, and do not take up more than one lane of travel. When riding on sidewalks, trails, or paths, be cautious when passing other users and slow down.

**
Furthermore, we ask you to be especially mindful and considerate of other users
while on trails. Practice etiquette and exercise patience!

Ride Marshals

Ride Marshals are WABA volunteers who are there to help you navigate and offer encouragement and support. Marshals receive training from WABA staff before the event and know participants may look to them with questions, for assistance, or to be a buddy. Marshals carry basic first aid supplies, and are instructed to call 911 in the case of an emergency on the ride.

Pit Stops

On each route there will be a pit-stop along the way.

Pit-stops will feature snacks and refreshments (including pre-packaged snacks, fruit, and water). And, WABA staff and volunteers on hand will have basic first aid and bike repair kits.

Petals and Pedals Route (20mi.)

Conte’s Bike Shop- Arlington (mile 13)- 10:30AM- 2:30PM

Blossom Expedition Route (3mi.)

Floral Library (mile 1.5)- 11:00AM- 12:30PM

Time Limits

There is no time limit for the ride — since this is an unsupported ride and no roads are closed for the ride, WABA will not ask anyone to stop riding.

However, you will not be able to get snacks or water at any of the ride sites after they close— see pit stop schedule above (or in your cue sheet on ride day!) for details.

Finish Line and Picnic

The ride will conclude where the ride started, at Franklin Park, which will feature:

Boxed lunches (choice of sandwich, chips, cookies, fruit)
Drinks
Crafting Activities
Bike valet
WABA partners

We hope you enjoy yourself after the ride. It will be a perfect chance to meet and interact with other riders who are all celebrating the experience.

What to Bring

Bike
Helmet (Required by our insurance. You can’t ride without one.)
Bike lock (It’s good to have a lock with you, in case of an unanticipated or emergency stop. Also, at the post-ride party, we will have a bike valet monitored by attendants, but you still may want to have a lock.. )
ID, credit card, SmartTrip card (for an emergency)
Weather appropriate clothing
Water bottles (you can fill it at the check-in area if you need to)
Saddle bag (to carry spare tube, tire levers, and pump or patch kit)
Spare tube (especially if you have a non-standard rim size!)
Charged cell phone and charger
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Additional snacks
An adventurous spirit!

Refreshments

Water
There will be water jugs from which you can fill your reusable water bottle at check-in, pit-stops, and the finish line. Bring your own bottles to fill up!

Snacks
Snacks at pit stops will be vegetarian. There will be fresh fruit including apples and bananas as well as pre-packaged, single serving snacks with sweet and salty, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Food and Drinks at the Post-Ride Picnic
At the post-ride picnic, participants will receive a boxed lunch and there will be a variety of drinks offered..

Bathrooms

There will be restrooms available at or nearby all ride sites (start/end points and pit stops).

At the start and finish, participants can access restroom facilities at Franklin Park.

FAQ

You may want to check out this blog post about What to Expect at a WABA Ride as well!

Questions about who, what, where, when, and why!

What is this event?

The Bloom Ride & Spring Picnic is a bicycling event to raise funds for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA)’s work in the DC region and our mission of empowering people to ride bikes, build connections and transform places.

Where does this event take place?

This event starts and finishes at Franklin Park– 1332 I Street NW (map)
The ride routes have participants travel through streets in DC and trails and quiet roads in Northern Virginia.

How should I get there? Is there parking?

When is this event?

The Bloom Ride & Spring Picnic will take place on Saturday, April 19th, 2025.

What time does this event start?

For the 20 mile Petals and Pedals Route, check-in will be open from 9:30am – 10:30am and the main group start will be at 10:30am.

For the 3 mile Blossom Expedition Route, check-in will be open from 10:30am – 11:00am and the main group start will be at 11:00am.

Will I receive a refund if it rains?
No. The Bloom Ride & Spring Picnic will take place rain or shine. In the case of extreme inclement weather, we may adjust this however it is very unlikely.

Are the roads closed for this ride? Are there cars?

Roads are NOT closed for this ride. This means:

The route is NOT closed to motor vehicle traffic.
Each route is on a combination of bike lanes, quiet neighborhood streets, and trails.
Each route has places where participants will share the road with cars

Is this ride supported?

All ride routes are generally unsupported. That means:

Streets are not closed for this ride. You will ride on streets with motor vehicle traffic.
The route is unmarked.
WABA staff will have basic first aid materials at the check-in, finish line, and pit stop areas. Staff will make these materials available to participants in case of minor injury. In case of an emergency, WABA staff or volunteers will call 911.
There is a SAG vehicle which participants can call for in the case of an emergency or being stranded.

Participants are expected to:

Call 911 in case of an emergency.
Have an emergency-contact who is not a ride participant “on call” during the ride.
Carry a charged cell phone (and charged battery pack for the longer rides).

Is the route marked with signs or arrows?

No. The route is unmarked.

Participants should navigate using the physical cue sheet provided in their check-in packet, or with free turn-by-turn navigation on their smartphone using the Ride with GPS app.

Will there be Ride Marshals?

Yes. Ride Marshals are volunteers who are there to help participants navigate and offer encouragement and support.

Lead Ride Marshals will lead an optional group start for those who wish to start with the group

Sweep Ride Marshals will bring up the back of each group.

Want to stick with a Ride Marshal for the whole ride? Ask about no drop groups at check-in or look for groups forming at designated cones to find a Ride Marshal assigned to stick with a smaller group.

Where can I find information about the routes?

The ride routes will be shared soon.

I’m not sure which route is right for me!

We’d love to talk to you about this and help you pick the route that is the best fit for the ride you want to have! Email us at events@waba.org if you’d like to chat about it.

Do I have to follow traffic laws?

Yes. WABA asks and expects all participants to ride lawfully and with respect for other road users. This means:

Stop at all red lights and stop signs as appropriate. Cyclists can use the leading pedestrian interval at stop lights and yield at stop signs except when others have right of way at the intersection.
Always yield to pedestrians.
Follow posted signs.
Use hand signals when turning.
Communicate verbally with other riders.
Do not ride more than two abreast, and do not take up more than one lane of travel. When riding on sidewalks, trails, or paths, be cautious when passing other users and slow down.

Do I have to wear a helmet?

Yes. WABA’s insurance requires that everyone riding a bicycle on a WABA ride wears a helmet while riding.

Can I ride my e-bike?

WABA welcomes e-bikes on our ride. We ask that you choose a route that is suitable for your bike and have a fully charged battery the day of the event.

Will food and drink be provided?

There will be a selection of snacks provided at the check-in, pit-stops, and the finish line. We will also have water stations available for you to fill your water bottles. WABA will not be providing water bottles so please make sure you bring your own bottle with you for the ride.

The post-ride picnic will have boxed lunches and drinks available to all participants.

Questions about Registration and Check-in

I selected a ride route but now I want to change it.

No problem! Please email us at events@waba.org and we will get you switched to the route of your choice.

Note: You will be responsible for paying the registration fee difference if switching from a shorter route to a longer route. We are not able to issue refunds for any registration.

Do I have to be a WABA member to register for this ride?

Nope! If you’re not a WABA member, you’ll get the non-member rate. It includes an annual Digital Membership. So if you’re not a member before you register, you will be one after!

What is your refund policy?

Because this is a fundraiser there will be no refunds for this event.

If you are feeling sick or have symptoms of an illness, do not come to the event. Email events@waba.org and let us know you cannot come because you are sick, and we will transfer your registration fee to a 100% tax deductible donation or put your registration fee towards a future WABA ride.

Can I transfer my registration to another individual?

Yes. However, there is a $25 admin fee for transferring registration. Please email us at events@waba.org to make your transfer.

I am riding a tandem bike with another individual! Do we need two registrations?

Yes, unless riding solo is not an option available to one of the participants. If so, please register for one person and send us an email with contact information for the other rider so we know who is coming at events@waba.org.

Is there a youth rate for this ride?

Yes. Participants age 18 and under are eligible for the youth rate.

Can I register a guest for this ride?

Yes. You can register multiple people at one time. However, you must provide the name and email address of every attendee.

I want to register a child or person who does not have their own email address.

Please email us at events@waba.org and we will get this worked out.

Can I register onsite the day of the ride?

Yes! You can register yourself on your phone or with WABA staff at the info table who can help you register.

I have a question that you haven’t answered here.

We are happy to help! Email your question to us at events@waba.org.