Ride Your Bike to this Weekend’s Events

We talk a lot about bike facilities, bike laws, and bike safety. And we’ve encouraged thousands to bike in the Washington area. But the one time our Bike Ambassador says he wouldn’t personally recommend biking to an event, that’s what gets repeated everywhere. To be clear, WABA still thinks biking is a good way to get to the rally (or wherever else you’re going this weekend). That is how I will be getting there. But WABA will not be providing parking and we don’t know of any arrangements by the organizers to supplement the minimal parking that is available on the Mall perimeter. So I’ll be arriving plenty early, well prepared to walk a few blocks after finding a secure place to lock up. Oh, and I’ll be bringing a good U-lock plus a cable for the tires. But I still expect to have a more pleasant trip than those who arrive by other means. Bottom line: Ride your bike. But bring a lock and don’t assume WABA will be able to watch your bike for you this time. The important thing for you, the bicycling public, is to know what to expect. And cut the Bike Ambassador some slack. The guy bikes to events for a living and answers questions from everyone, from new cyclists to journalists, while hauling a giant bike safety trailer all over the District. If he wants to take a day off and walk to an event for a change, WABA will look the other way.