Meet this year’s Winners of the WABA Awards (and vote for more!)

January 28, 2020January 29, 2020 | Anna McCormally

2019 was a heck of a year for bicycling in the region. We’ve seen new protected bike lanes, Capital Bikeshare expansions, trail-improvements…and more!

At the 2019 Bicyclists’ Choice Awards on February 26th, the WABA community will honor the winners of the Choice Awards, voted on and awarded by you!

You can vote on Best Improvement: Maryland; Best Improvement: Virginia; Best Improvement: DC; and Best Social Ride here — and RSVP for the BCAs so you don’t miss the awards.

Vote RSVP

At the Bicyclists’ Choice Awards, we also recognize winners of the 2019 WABA Awards, honoring individuals whose dedicated work for better bicycling has made our community stronger, our streets safer, and brought us closer to our vision of a region where everyone can get where they’re going on a bike.

These awards are selected by WABA’s board and staff.

Winners of the 2019 WABA Awards:

2019 WABA Super Volunteer Award

Monica Morin, for her dedication to selling merchandise at WABA events, showing up to volunteer nights, making year-end phone calls, and overall being an incredible cheerleader for WABA everywhere she goes.

2019 WABA Public Leadership Award

Emily Dalphy, for her work as an innovative public servant who listens responsively to community needs, and going above and beyond in supporting communities who need safe streets now.

2019 Community Advocate Awards

Sean Neal, for his leadership organizing the site visit at South Capitol Street to demonstrate the need for safe crossing at Xenia Street— a much-needed safety improvement.

George Tobias, for his leadership encouraging elected officials to attend the Ward 8 Traffic Safety Meetings, where we organized around the need for safer routes to school, better sidewalks, and speed control in Ward 8 neighborhoods.

2019 Trail Champion Award

Ravi Ganvir, for his work moving countless trails, walking and biking projects around the District forward this past year, including the Arboretum Bridge and Trail.

2019 Heart and Soul Award

Christy Kwan and Faith Cole-Hall, for their leadership in establishing the DC chapter of Families for Safe Streets, giving our community a place to support one another, remember and grieve those lost to traffic violence, and organize for action.

2019 Vision Zero Award

Evan Glass, for his leadership on issues facing vulnerable road users across Montgomery County— including hosting a Vision Zero town hall and meaningfully engaging with Maryland State Highway and Montgomery County DOT.

2019 Youth Leadership Award

Amir Goodman, Oliver Krupa, and Siddharth Kravetz, for their courage in giving testimony at the DC Council Vision Zero hearing last October.

2019 Educator of the Year Award

Carol Ann Pisciotta, for her enthusiasm and leadership in making the youth bicycle education pilot at Excel Beyond the Bell at Oakview Elementary a reality.

2019 Biking for All Award

Fionnuala Quin for her leadership as a champion of bike and pedestrian education, including her work to implement traffic gardens at DC and Alexandria elementary schools.

Congratulations to all of these champions of safer streets— and thank you for all of your work in 2019.

Don’t forget to vote for your picks in the Bicyclists’ Choice Awards— and RSVP for the event to join in celebrating all we accomplished together in 2019.

Vote RSVP

You’re Invited to Hains Point 100 – The Finale

December 11, 2019December 16, 2019 | WABA Staff

This is a guest post from Megan Jones, co-founder of Hains Point 100 and a Women & Bicycles supporter!

Megan Jones (center, with megaphone) at Hains Point 100.

Hi. I’m Megan. And, in 2012 I started a thing. Something that I had no idea that would catch on like it did.

What if I rode a bunch of laps around Hains Point and asked people to join me? Well, that’s what became the Hains Point 100 which has now become the premier December outside bike event filled with fun (and absurdity) for everyone!

Come join us on December 22nd. We already have a huge line-up of supporters that have donated some amazing door prizes and more! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the updates of what we’ll have.

As always, this is not a formal event – we’re just getting together on a chilly Sunday to ride our bikes in a circle and have some fun! And we are raising awareness for WABA’s Women & Bicycles program. All levels of riders are welcome – we can’t wait to see you there!

Please let us know you’re coming by mushing on the big button below!

Hains Point 100
When: Sunday, December 22, 2019
Where: Hains Point, Washington DC

Permit me a moment for a quick flashback. I was sitting in an Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting in the county building letting my thoughts wander and heard a few people talking about how they rode around Hains Point continuously for 100 miles. “Are they serious?” thought I. “Who would do such a thing?” As my mind continued to wander, I thought about how I’d been putting a lot of miles on my bike that year and still wanted to do more. At that moment I thought, “Wait, I’m that bananas, why not!?!” Then my mouth said, “Hey, I’m going to ride 100 miles around Hains Point.” And, those people heard me and my idea so I couldn’t back out. That’s like, a rule.

Continue reading →

The icing on the donut: Cider Ride 2019

November 27, 2019January 8, 2020 | Anna McCormally

It’s been a great fall for WABA: Open Streets, progress on Long Bridge, more than 60 people showing up to testify for safer streets at the Vision Zero Hearing. Plus, the Presidents rode Capital Bikeshare bikes in the Nats’ World Series victory parade. Then, to put the icing on the ~~cake~~ donut: Cider Ride!

November 2nd dawned cool and clear — a little chilly for standing around, but good temps for a bike ride! Almost 500 bicyclists gathered at Dance Place to check in, get their Cider Ride carabiner mugs, and fill their water bottles, before setting off on WABA’s last ride of 2019.

The cider was hot, the pies were enormous, and our ride marshals looked glamorous in brand-new (!) marshal vests.

Bicyclists of all ages enjoyed donuts at Proteus Bikes and our new pit stop at Bladensburg Waterfront Park before continuing their ride, and riders on the 55-mile Honeycrisp route took a loop around the Patuxent Research Refuge before resting at the 30 mile mark at Buddy Attick Lake Park.

A rider and their 2019 Cider Ride mug at Buddy Attick Park.

Staff and volunteers were ready with pie as participants rolled into the post-ride celebration at Brookland’s Dew Drop Inn, where music, food, and drink kept the party going late into the afternoon.

So much pie. Which isn’t a terrible problem to have.

Thanks to everyone who came out for Cider Ride! I hope we’ll see you December 18th at our WABA Member Holiday Party at Franklin Hall. You can check out more photos from Cider Ride below— but first, thanks again to all our sponsors:

Gold Sponsor:

Bronze Sponsors:

Find a gallery of photos from Cider Ride 2019 below:

This family was all smiles for the Candy Apple route!

What’s the best part of Cider Ride?

September 27, 2019September 27, 2019 | Anna McCormally

Those two 70-degree days last week was all it took to get me fully in the mood for fall. And it’s not just me: all of a sudden pumpkin-spice everything is everywhere, and decorative gourds are popping up on every block.

But for WABA, the autumn equinox means one thing: Cider Ride!

Cider Ride, one WABA staff member remarked, is “everything good about fall in a bike ride.”

What does that mean?

It means apple pie and donuts. It means hot cider and heavier layers. And, most importantly, it means winding along gorgeous Prince George’s County trails transformed by autumn.

Seriously – it’s not an exaggeration. Look at these views:

Fall foliage at Lake Artemesia in Prince George’s County. You can’t beat it.

What makes Cider Ride even better is that it has something for everybody. Three routes (the 55-mile Honeycrisp, the 30-mile McIntosh, and the 10-mile Candy Apple route) means you can get out on your bike for a while whether you feel like riding for two hours or six.

We’ll have fall treats at the pit stops on every route — plus, hot cider (and a commemorative WABA Cider Ride mug to drink it from) to warm you up while you take a break. A leisurely ride through the woods or a fast-paced tour of the trails – the pace is up to you!

A canopy of autumn’s best colors – experience it on your bike!

So whether you’re itching to tackle the Honeycrisp route on your road bike, hoping to snap a perfect fall Instagram shot as you catch your breath on McIntosh, or planning to hitch a trailer with 3 kids on the back of your bike for the Candy Apple ride, we can’t wait to go on a bike ride with you.

Because really, that’s the best part about Cider Ride — spending a crisp fall morning outside with friends. I hope I see you there!

Sunshine and PB&Js: 50 States 2019 Recap

September 26, 2019September 26, 2019 | Anna McCormally

Hundreds of bicyclists came out on Saturday, September 7th for WABA’s annual 50 States Ride. We saw a burley-bound baby along for the Route 66 Ride, a couple tackling the 50 States in matching jerseys, and 13 Colonies riders rolling out together by the dozen from Walter Pierce Park. Whether this was your first 50 States Ride or your tenth: it was awesome to see you all bright and early to celebrate bicycling in D.C.

The day was clear and warm— a great day for a bike ride! Volunteer-made PBJs kept bellies full and pedals pumping at our Eastern Market pit stop, and the WABA Boutique at the Mellow Mushroom post-ride celebration had plenty of shirts, socks, and jerseys for sale so riders could show their WABA pride. Thanks to the sunshine, the roofdeck filled up quickly, and 18th Street felt even more festive than usual as rider after rider rolled up to the finish line looking for their hard-earned pizza and beer.

Thank you so much to all of you who came out for the ride. Like all of WABA’s signature events, the 50 States Ride is a fundraising event. Your registration fees fund WABA’s mission of making sure there are safe, accessible places to bicycle across the region. We’re grateful for your support, and I hope I’ll see you at our next signature event, Cider Ride, on November 2.

Check out the photos below for a glimpse of the 2019 50 States Ride —but first, one last thank you to the sponsors whose support made the 50 States Ride possible:

50 States check-in.
Conte’s Bike Shop provided bike tune-ups at check-in.
Thanks to our marshals on each 50 States route!
A 50 States family affair!
PB&Js were a hit for lunch.
Only a few miles left to go!
Thank you to our title sponsor, Signal Financial, for supporting this year’s 50 States Ride!
Pizza and beer at the afterparty at Mellow Mushroom

Top Three Reasons to do WABA in the Wild

August 13, 2019September 20, 2019 | Anna McCormally

We’ve run four WABA in the Wild trips since we started to do the trip, back in 2016. Going into number five, we thought it may be a good time to reflect on what makes the trip awesome by talking to some of the people who would know best—the folks that were there!

After you do WABA in the Wild, you suddenly have 20 new bike friends that you spent an amazing weekend with! You can opt into an online group—WABA in the Wild Alumni—where you can keep in touch with them, plan rides or other get-togethers, and more. We asked this group: “Looking back at the experience of your trip, what were the best things about WABA in the Wild?”

Here’s what they said:

1. Getting to know the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath.

“The C&O Canal is truly a marvel to ride along. There is so much natural beauty and fascinating engineering to take in every mile.”

WABA in the Wild is a three day, 184.5 mile ride from Cumberland to Georgetown on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath.

Construction of the C&O Canal began in 1828 and was completed in 1850 to transport coal from the Allegheny mountains to port cities. Now, as part of a National Historical Park, the towpath is an incredible chance to take in the transportation history of the early United States, with wildlife and greenery surrounding us on all sides.

2. Meals prepared campside by WABA staff and volunteers.

“Food prepared by the staff—each meal was great. I especially enjoyed the veggie chili the first night…along with the spaghetti and meatballs! I never knew I could eat so much!”

We know that 184.5 miles calls for calories. So from breakfast when you wake up in camp, to pit stops stocked with lunch and snacks, to dinner cooked campside, WABA will make sure you’re fueled up and ready to go. Who knows—there might even be s’mores by the campfire.

3. All of it!

*2018 WABA in the Wild riders and staff at mile zero in Georgetown.*

“Looking back on the experience…it was all of it that was the best. The people I rode with, the adventure, the WABA staff…I look back on the experience and I think, I did that. And I was able to support the work that WABA does. It really doesn’t get much better than that.”

WABA in the Wild is a supported ride, which means staff and volunteers will be with you every step of the way. In the weeks leading up to the weekend, we’ll have a meeting and practice ride where you can get up to speed on details of the weekend and meet the other bicycling advocates who will be on WABA in the Wild. We’ll work with you to develop a fundraising plan and strategy so you can meet your $1000 fundraising goal. And we’ll transport you, your bike, and your gear to Cumberland, Maryland; set up pit stops as we pedal our way to Georgetown; and be available to cheer and support you all weekend. All you need to do is enjoy the ride.

WABA in the Wild is made possible by these generous supporters:

Bronze Sponsor:

Meet Anna McCormally, our new Events Coordinator

August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 | Anna McCormally

I remember my first time riding my bike in the city. It was 2013, my first year in DC. I got off the Metro at McPherson Square Metro and rode north on 14th Street to Columbia Heights. It was a little scary, but I felt powerful and free, alert to my surroundings, present in my body…and completely hooked on bicycles! Since then, whether I’m exploring the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail with a friend, training for a race on Beach Drive, or just enjoying the sun on my morning commute, my bike has gotten me wherever I need to go.

My first experience with WABA was as a participant in the 2014 50 States Ride. Group rides are a great way to build community, explore the city, and grow your confidence on a bicycle, and I can’t wait to share the 50 States Rides and WABA’s other signature rides with you in my role as events coordinator. We’ll buckle our helmets, hop in the saddle, and celebrate the work that WABA’s advocates, members, and supporters are doing to make the DC area safe, fun, and accessible to bicyclists.

Want more details about one of WABA’s signature rides? Interested in volunteering to create an awesome experience for your friends and neighbors? Feeling unsure which of our rides is right for your level of bicycling? I’d love to talk about that and anything else related to WABA events. Drop me a line at anna.mccormally@waba.org. I can’t wait to go on a bike ride with you.

Route 66 returns! Here’s why.

July 17, 2019July 17, 2019 | Cyrus Chimento

In 2018, we added a third route to the offerings for the 50 States Ride. It was called Route 66, and, at about 35 miles, we created it to provide a good middle ground between the 50 States route (60 miles) and the 13 Colonies route (15 miles).

Route 66 leads you on the eight streets named for states that the original US Route 66 passed through. You’ll ride these states in geographical order, east to west, without riding on any other state streets in the District. There are still hills. You still see a ton of the city. And, it’s still a really fun time!

Sign me up!

Take a look at this year’s draft route for Route 66!

This year, we’re bringing Route 66 back and making it part of the regular lineup of 50 States Ride routes. Why? You loved it!

Nearly a third of all 50 States Ride participants in 2018 chose to ride Route 66, which tells us there was significant demand for a middle-ground route like Route 66. And, we got a ton of great, positive feedback about the route:

“Loved the new Route 66 option. I’ve done 50 states in the past and, for lack of a better way of putting it, it was like a 50 states experience quite so many stupid hills :)”

“I loved the new route — 33 miles is the perfect distance. I feel accomplished, saw parts of the city I don’t usually see, and still had energy to enjoy the after party.”

“Bravo to those who designed The Route 66 course! A job well done!”

“I loved the middle distance option – it made inviting a “new-to-cycling” friend MUCH more enjoyable. 15 would have been too short, 60+ would have been way too long, but 35 was just right.”

This isn’t surprising. The 50 States route has a reputation for being incredibly difficult, and, while the challenge is part of the fun, sometimes you don’t want to go on a ride quite so…intense.

We’re hoping that continuing to provide a number of different route length options at our signature ride events will open them up to bicyclists of various comfort levels and styles of biking, and make our community bigger. And we hope you’re part of it!

Convinced? Register now. We’ll see you there!

Let’s Mingle: WABA Summer Member Mixer

July 16, 2019July 16, 2019 | Hannah Anderson Dana

Eager to meet your fellow WABA members? Curious about recent advocacy updates? Looking for a new ride route? Come join us for a WABA Member Mixer on July 25, sponsored by our friends at SHARE NOW!

Current WABA members will get their first round on us but don’t worry—you can join as a member on-site.

Details:

When: Thursday, July 25, 5:30 – 8:30pm

Where: Local 16 (1602 U Street NW)

RSVP!

The Sweet Ride & Shindig was…pretty sweet.

June 26, 2019June 26, 2019 | Cyrus Chimento

On Saturday, June 15th, WABA hosted the first annual Sweet Ride & Shindig, presented by Conte’s Bike Shop.

Friends: it doesn’t get any better than this. Perfect weather, ideal location, and great company conspired to make this an incredibly fun bike ride and party. (And, we gave out some pretty great bandanas.)

WABA Board Member Judd Isbell shows off his sweet bandana!

Riders chose from 5, 15, 30, or 50 mile routes that many described as full of discovery, with new trails to learn about and unfamiliar connections to find that stitched together a picture of how to get around Northern Virginia by bike. (Depending on the route, there may have been some surprise hills, too.)

After the ride, attendees returned to the Shindig. With token from WABA in hand, they were treated to either a beer from Port City Brewing or an ice cream cone. With tunes from Chasing Autumn, yard games, and a mini-expo of bike-related businesses onsite, the Grounds in Crystal City provided the perfect setting to while away the afternoon, hanging out with old friends, making new ones, and basking in the glow of a great summer day.

Some riders also took action: after having ridden the Quincy St corridor in Arlington, riders completed a survey to shape bike infrastructure coming to Quincy St in the near future. Want to weigh in? You have until June 28 to fill out the survey (at the bottom of the page).

To all the riders: thank you for supporting WABA! Like all signature rides, the proceeds from the Sweet Ride & Shindig directly fund the hard work that WABA is doing to make bicycling better for everyone in the region. Your support helps us advocate for better trails and more bike lanes—safer conditions for all. Thank you.

We’ve collected some photos from the ride below, but first, a final shoutout to our sponsors:

Title Sponsor:

Platinum Sponsor:

Pit Stop Sponsors:

Drinkmore Water
KIND Snacks
Honest Tea
Dana Bres

Giant Food
Port City Brewing
Phoenix Bikes

WABA extends a huge thank you to the host committee for this event who played key roles in making this event a success:

Wayne Clark

Judd Isbell

Josephine Liu

Find a gallery of photos from the Sweet Ride and Shindig below!

Our first Sweet Ride and Shindig!
A huge shoutout to Conte’s Bike Shop for being our Title Sponsor for the first Sweet Ride and Shindig.
Riders at check-in.
Best Jersey at the Sweet Ride goes to…
And they’re off!
It’s a party, it’s a picnic, it’s a bike ride!
Bring the family on down to the Grounds!
Love the different bandana styles!
Takin’ the lane on a beautiful summer day—can’t ask for much else.
A little life-sized Jenga at the Shindig!
Bandana swag with the hat, we can dig it!
Just scootin’.
Life-sized Connect Four at the Shindig.
Port City Brew provided some drinks at the Shindig, too!
Ride, walk, scoot—whatever your summer jam is!
Riders on the Four Mile Run Trail.
A yummy ice cream cone to end a sweet day.