Prince George’s Co. Newsletter: See you on the trails!

August 31, 2026

What’s going on, everyone!  Welcome to the first edition of the WABA Prince George’s County Newsletter | Keeping the Wheels Turning! This is your monthly stop for everything happening in and around our cycling community, from local rides and event recaps to advocacy updates, upcoming projects, community events, and opportunities to get involved. There’s a lot happening across Prince George’s County, so let’s jump in and see you on the trails!

Event Recap

Backyard Boogie — 3-Day Event Recap

Backyard Boogie was an incredible three-day celebration of cycling, community, and culture! 

Friday kicked things off with an amazing fish fry, welcoming our out-of-town riders and guests, followed by a fun and friendly community ride to set the tone for the weekend.

Saturday brought the challenge with 62-mile and 100-mile century routes featuring plenty of elevation and some intense summer heat. Riders showed tremendous determination and pushed through a demanding day on the bike.

Sunday closed out the weekend in exciting fashion with men’s and women’s criterium racing. The energy was high, the racing was fast, and the crowd and vendors showed up in a major way.

Overall, Backyard Boogie was a great example of what happens when cycling, community, competition, and culture come together. An amazing weekend from start to finish!

Chocolate City Criterium — Event Recap

The Chocolate City Criterium delivered an epic full day of racing and community in the nation’s capital, featuring exciting men’s and women’s criterium categories and an incredible atmosphere throughout the day.

The cycling action was complemented by a 5K race, bringing even more athletes and spectators into the event. We were also joined by celebrity guest announcer Ayesha McGowan, the first African American woman to become a professional road cyclist, adding an inspiring presence to an already special day.

The event finished with an intense Men’s Pro 1/2/3 race, with the field averaging over 27 mph for the race! With great vendors, nonstop energy, and more than 1,000 participants and attendees, Chocolate City Criterium showcased competitive cycling at its best while creating an exciting, inclusive celebration of cycling culture right in Washington, D.C.

BSU Recap

 A Little Rain Couldn’t Stop the BSU Bike Tour! 

Rain, rain, and more rain—but the community still showed up and showed out! 

Despite the weather, we had 6 determined riders take on the full Century, while the majority of participants enjoyed the 20-mile route. Altogether, more than 35 riders came out, braved the conditions, and made the day one to remember.

But the biggest win goes far beyond the miles ridden: over $100,000 was raised to support scholarships for students this upcoming fall! 

That’s what community is all about—showing up, supporting one another, and riding for a purpose bigger than ourselves.

Rain or shine, the mission continues. 

   News & Updates

• SAVE THE DATE: Mark your calendar for the 2026 Prince George’s County Bicycle Summit & Expo on October 17th from 1-4pm at Bowie City Hall. Join cyclists, advocates, community leaders, planners, and transportation professionals from across Prince George’s County for an afternoon dedicated to shaping the future of bicycling in our community. RSVP now.
• New Directors & Chairs for County Agencies! Learn about the new Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, Darius A. Stanton, and new Prince George’s County Planning Board Chair: Kevin A. Anderson.
• The Maryland Board of Public Works approved $930,000 to fund the acquisition of 1.55 acres of land for the Central Avenue Connector Trail in Capitol Heights, Prince George’s County, which will eventually extend 7-miles between Largo Town Center and the District of Columbia and Largo Town Center. 
• Check out the Northern Prince George’s East-West Bikeway Feasibility Study. This project will ultimately expand the County’s bikeway network by providing east-west connectivity between four major north-south trail corridors – the WB&A Trail, the Northeast Branch Trail, the Rhode Island Trolley Trail, and the Northwest Branch Trail, improving access and safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and micromobility users in the northern Prince Georges County region. 

   Chainrings & Change

• Prince George’s County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha Listening Tour (8/26-28): Share your experiences, priorities, and concerns directly with County leaders with events in Bowie (8/25), Chillum (8/26), and Forestville (8/27). Take a minute to complete the quality of life survey including your thoughts about improving transportation safety.
• Community Vision Walk on Rhode Island Ave (9/5): Come walk and talk about enhanced public space in Beltsville! We are developing a short-term pilot project to create a greater sense of place and calm traffic on Rhode Island Avenue.
• Hyattsville Traffic Calming Meeting for 42nd Ave & Kennedy St(9/10): Community members are invited to meet with Department of Public Works staff to review plans and next steps to address traffic safety concerns at the intersection of 42nd Avenue and Kennedy Street. The meeting will include a Powerpoint presentation of design options.
• Rank Bike Friendly Cities: The League of American Bicyclists ranks the bike-friendly status of cities across the country. Bowie, Brunswick, and Rockville are up for review. Weigh in now (deadline September 14)!
• Hands off Hains Point (8/29): Hains Point (aka East Potomac Park), the home of the Ohio Drive loop, is threatened by the federal administration’s desire for a larger, fancier golf course. Rumors continue to swirl that the proposed redevelopment could reduce or even eliminate public space for cycling, running, walking, birding, and fishing— but we’re not backing down. Join a community rally on August 29th and add your name to the petition to Save Hains Point for People! 

 WABA Pre- Ride Checklist: Do you ride with a group? Try reviewing quick pointers with your group before heading out!

1.  BIKE CHECK — Is Your Bike Ride-Ready?

• Check tires and tire pressure.
• Test front and rear brakes.
• Make sure wheels, drivetrain, and other components are secure and functioning properly.
• Helmet required.
• You are responsible for making sure your bike is safe and ready to ride.

2.  KNOW THE ROUTE

• Download the route before rollout if one has been provided.
• Know the planned distance and major turns.
• Do not rely solely on the rider in front of you to know where you’re going.
• Know whether the ride is no-drop, regroup, or drop before leaving.

3. 3.  MECHANICAL OR EMERGENCY = HAND UP & MOVE RIGHT

• If you have a flat, mechanical, medical issue, or need to stop, raise your right hand and clearly communicate that you’re stopping.
• Safely move toward the right side of the road when conditions allow.
• Do not abruptly stop in the middle of the group.
• Riders behind you: communicate the stop through the group.

4.  OBEY THE ROAD

• We stop at red lights.
• Obey stop signs and traffic controls.
• Yield to oncoming traffic and traffic with the right-of-way.
• Never assume an intersection is clear simply because the rider ahead crossed it.
• Each rider is responsible for making sure it is safe to proceed.

5.  COMMUNICATE & RIDE PREDICTABLY

• Call out hazards: “Hole!” “Car back!” “Slowing!” “Stopping!”
• Signal turns and lane changes.
• Hold your line—no sudden swerving or braking.
• Do not overlap wheels unnecessarily.
• Pass other riders only when it is safe, and communicate before moving through the group.

RIDE LEADER CLOSING

Ride smart. Communicate. Look out for the rider beside you. Obey the rules of the road. And most importantly—let’s have a safe ride and get everybody back together.

Helmets on. Route loaded. Let’s roll. 

 Bike Tech Highlight: (Not sponsored pitch)

Visibility is key and Bike radars are the new thing! (3 options that fit your bike)

If you’re riding on the road, a rear radar is quickly becoming one of those pieces of equipment you don’t want to ride without. Here are three of the top bike radars on the market right now:

Bottom line: Radar doesn’t replace looking over your shoulder, but having another set of “eyes” watching traffic behind you can completely change your awareness on the road. Whether you go Garmin, Wahoo, or Trk—ride smart, stay visible, and know what’s coming. 

   Resources: Info, Rides, Meet-ups, & More

• Riding Resources:
  • Check out some quick refreshers on bike laws in Prince George’s.
  • Explore Prince George’s Parks & Rec’s new PG Parks Trail Finder.
  • Click around to learn about the proposed Prince George’s County Bike and Pedestrian Network Plan.
• Shop rides / Club rides
  • Bowie: Check out Jafe Cycling for recurring club and shop rides on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
    • Monday: “Momentous Mondays” 
    • Thursday: Fastchix “Ride & Vibe”
    • Friday: “Fridays @ Jafes” 
    • Sunday: “Sunday Matine” 
    • https://www.strava.com/clubs/JafeCyclingBikeShop
  • College Park:
    • Join Proteus Bicycles for commuter, road, and mountain biking rides + social gatherings.
    • Explore with College Park Bicycles on their recurring Sunday group rides.
    • If you’re a UDM student, check out the RecWell bike shop for free maintenance and rides.
  • Hyattsville:
    • Ride with Arrow Bicycle on Sunday and stay tuned for community events.
  • Oxon Hill Bicycle & Club Calendar
  • Getting It In Cyclists
  • DMV Caribbean Ridazz
• Related jobs:
  • The Prince George’s County Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) is currently seeking a new Vision Zero Program Coordinator. This position serves as a member of the Department’s Vision Zero Prince George’s team and supports the coordination, outreach and implementation of a Vision Zero Program and Action Plan. 
  • Greater Greater Washington is hiring a new Maryland Organizing Associate, who will help people to get more involved in state-level advocacy, in addition to some local work in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. 

Keep the wheels turning,
Matt