Bicycle commuting can benefit both employees and employers by improving employee health and fitness, lowering commuting, parking and health care costs, and increasing productivity. To help promote the idea of bicycle commuting, Commuter Connections, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) are hosting the annual “Bike to Work Day” on May 2. This year’s celebration will feature 15 pit stops throughout the metropolitan Washington region. Over 3,000 bicyclists are expected to participate, with many of those converging on Freedom Plaza in the District of Columbia to celebrate and hear local elected officials and other special guests tout the importance of cycling.

Pit stops in D.C., Bethesda, College Park, Frederick, North Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring,
Arlington, Alexandria, Crystal City, Fairfax, Falls Church, Leesburg, Reston and Vienna will offer free food, t-shirts, entertainment and a chance to win a bicycle, along with other prizes. The company or agency with the most registrants will win a free lunch for all of its Bike to Work Day participants. Start times vary from location to location.  The Freedom Plaza (14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW) celebration will begin at 8 a.m.

At a recent meeting of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, its members issued a proclamation establishing May 2, 2003 “Bike to Work Day” for the metropolitan Washington area in conjunction with the designation of May as “Clean Air Month” and “National Bike Month.” The TPB has encouraged member jurisdictions to adopt similar proclamations to support the event.

Among the local officials scheduled to participate are:
District of Columbia – Mayor Anthony Williams and David Robertson, COG executive
director
College Park – Mayor Stephen Brayman and Prince George’s County Board and TPB
Chair Peter Shapiro
Frederick – Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty
Rockville – County Executive Doug Duncan and Mayor Larry Giammo
Silver Spring – Charles Kines, Maryland National Capital Parks & Planning, and Michael
Jackson, Maryland Department of Transportation
Alexandria – Council Member Redella “Del” Pepper
Crystal City – Arlington County Board Member Paul Ferguson
Fairfax – Board of Supervisors Chair Katherine Hanley
Falls Church – Mayor Dan Gardner
Leesburg – Mayor Umstattd
Reston – Delegate Jim Plum and Fairfax County Supervisor Catherine Hudgins
Rosslyn – Arlington County Board Member Chris Zimmerman
Vienna – Mayor M. Jane Seeman

For more information and to register, visit www.waba.org or call 202-628-2500.