“The Inaugural DC BIKE RIDE on May 22nd: 17 miles of car free streets, a finish festival and more”

From a press release:

“DC Bike Ride, a scenic urban bicycle ride celebrating the people, places, and culture of Washington, D.C. will debut in the District on May 22, as an exciting addition to National Bike Month celebrations.

The recreational ride offers a unique car-free tour of the nation’s capital. Riders will cruise past some of the most iconic sites taking in everything from the Washington Monument to the
White House and the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Participants will conclude their journey with a post-ride celebration near the United States Capitol.

“We are excited to join our partners in presenting a non-competitive biking event for all ages and abilities,” Capital Sports Ventures Chief Executive Officer Greg Bibb stated. “DC Bike Ride will celebrate and promote biking, a healthy lifestyle and street safety while allowing participants from throughout the region and beyond to enjoy a one-of-a-kind journey through the District.”

The inaugural 2016 event expects to include 8,000 riders, but the ride is projected to grow to 18,000 in the coming years, becoming a premiere recreational cycling event on the east coast.

Washington, D.C. provides the perfect locale for the event. The District was recently voted Walk Score’s “Most Bikeable City of 2015” and boasts one of the largest bikesharing systems in the United States.

“The addition of the DC Bike Ride to the sports landscape of the nation’s capital is a perfect and timely fit,” said Erik A. Moses, senior vice president and managing director of Events DC Sports and Entertainment. “DC has been voted the fittest city in America multiple times but has been missing a cycle event among the marathons, fun runs and the triathlon that currently provide athletic challenges for District residents and visitors to enjoy. The DC Bike Ride will attract bike enthusiasts and tourists from across the country by providing a unique opportunity to experience our great city and many of its wonderful features from an extraordinary perspective.”

Washington, D.C. is also home to Vision Zero, a long-term street safety initiative, which works to end traffic deaths and major injuries for all road-users. Vision Zero was recently adopted in the District of Columbia and is supported by WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association). As the primary benefactor of the inaugural DC Bike Ride, WABA will receive a portion of the proceeds to fund street safety programs carried out by the organization.

“WABA is a proud founding partner of the DC Bike Ride,” stated Greg Billing, WABA’s Executive Director. “DCBR represents the return of a family-friendly, traffic-free bike ride to the District of Columbia, and our community couldn’t be more thrilled. We believe the best way to experience our region is on the seat of a bicycle. In addition to the good work of bringing people together, DC Bike Ride will provide critical resources for our community engagement work to support D.C.’s Vision Zero goal to end traffic fatalities by 2024.”

TICKETS:
Early bird registration for DC Bike Ride presented by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Events DC is available now through February 28 and can be purchased by visiting DCBikeRide.com. Early bird pricing starts at $50. Regular pricing, starting at $60, begins on March 1.”