How We Biked KIND-ly in 2013

Last week, we announced that the Bike KIND-ly program—during which our bike ambassadors hand out Kind bars stickered with a helpful tip about bike etiquette—is back on for 2014. On a monthly basis, the ambassadors selected a different location and crafted a message to distribute to cyclists riding near it. Individual snack bars were adorned with a short reminder to share the road, yield to pedestrians on sidewalks, basic bike-lane etiquette, and to ride lawfully. Read the full list of last year’s Bike KIND-ly tips below:

1. Don’t be a bike ninja! Position yourself to be seen, and be visible with bright bike lights, bright colors and reflectivity.
2. Avoid bicycling on the sidewalks! You’re safest when you ride on the road and go with the flow.
3. Be extremely KIND to your fellow trail users. When passing slow down, ring your bell, give an audible warning, pass on their left.
4. Communicate lane changes and turns to drivers with hand signals, eye contact, and your positioning on the road.
5. Show respect for fellow road users. Yield to pedestrians in x-walks and follow traffic laws.
6. Tune into your surroundings, not mobile devices. Don’t text or make phone calls by bike.
7. First in, first out. Wait behind cyclists already stopped at lights. Don’t crowd beside or blow through without warning.
8. Thanks for Stopping By. Obey traffic signs to help prevents injuries and improve bicyclists’ image. Be a Roll Model!
9. Claim the lane! A cyclist is entitled to the road, take what is yours! Riding in the middle of the lane makes you more visible to drivers.

And here’s a list of Bike KIND-ly locations:

• Columbia Heights Metro station
• Met Branch Trail
• 15th Street cycletrack and M Street NW
• R Street and New Jersey Avenue NW
• East Capitol and 4th streets NE
• 11th and W streets NW
• 11th Street Bridge SE
• 16th and U streets NW
• Kansas and 5th streets NW

Have a suggestion for the next Bike KIND-ly location or message? Let us know! Email the D.C. Bike Ambassadors at dcba@waba.org.