Press Releases That Make Me Laugh: “Ride Metro to Bike to Work Day”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Madame Meow

The title of this press release, “Ride Metro to Bike to Work Day”, from WMATA cracked me up. It makes sense when you read the full press release though:

Metro encourages riders to bike to Metrobus, Metrorail

Metro encourages bicyclists to ride their bikes and take Metrobus or Metrorail to work on “Bike to Work Day,” this Friday, May 21. The event is sponsored by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and promotes bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work.

Bicyclists who ride to a Metrobus stop and take the bus to work can secure their bikes on racks on the front of any bus. Information on how to use the racks is available at http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/bike_ride/bikes_bus.cfm.

Many Metrorail stations have facilities for bicycle storage so bicyclists can ride their bicycle to a station, leave it there, and take Metrorail or Metrobus. Storage facilities include free racks or lockers for rent, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Metro currently has about 1,600 bicycle racks and an additional 1,300 lockers spread throughout the Metrorail system at most of the 86 Metrorail stations. Bicycles are welcome in the Metrorail system anytime except during weekday rush hours, from 7 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Metro is working with its regional partners to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to Metrorail stations throughout the transit system. Earlier this month, Metro and the District of Columbia celebrated the completion of the first segment of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT), an eight-mile multi-use trail that will run from Union Station to Silver Spring, Md. When fully completed, the trail will provide direct access to seven Metrorail stations along the Red Line.

In addition, Metro is nearing completion of a study to identify Metrorail stations where improved pathways could attract more people to bike or walk to a station. The study evaluates existing and projected bicycle and pedestrian demand and access to stations, and facilities to improve bicycle storage, such as key swipe-card entry bicycle cages in parking lots and double-deck parking for bicycles.

Metro has identified $9 million in bicycle investment needs between 2011 and 2020 as part of its capital needs inventory, and will be working with its regional partners to identify ways to fund them.

For more information about Metro’s Bike ‘N Ride Program, visit http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/bike_ride.