Bike the Sites Blog

Whether you're new to bike commuting or it's old hat, it's not too late to register for Bike to Work Day! Join over 10,000 fellow bikers on May 18th at one of 58 rest stops in and around Washington. Registered participants have the chance to receive a free t-shirt, food, drinks, and raffle prizes. 

Put on by the Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA) and Commuter Connections, this year's Bike to Work Day promises to be even bigger than the last. 

Don't have a  bike? Bike and Roll Washington DC is offering free bike rentals for the day. Please call ahead to reserve your bike, which can be picked up between 5pm and 7pm on May 17th, or starting at 7:30am on May 18th (202-842-2453). 

Register here for Bike to Work Day 2012! Registration is free and open until the day of the event.

The annual Bike DC ride is a fantastic way to celebrate Mother's Day while exploring the off-the-mall-sites of Washington DC and Arlington. Participants can pick either the 24-mile ride or the 11-mile family friendly ride. The entire route will be car free, and for the first year ever the National Park Service is permitting riders onto a car free Rock Creek Parkway!

Kick off will start on Capital Hill on Sunday, May 13th, and will pedal past the White House, Arlington National Cemetary, the Airforce Memorial, and over the George Washington Parkway. Proceeds will go to benefit the Washington Area Bicycle Association, a non-profit dedicated to promoting safe bike riding around the Washington DC area.

In it's third year participating, Bike and Roll Washington DC will offer Trek hybrid, performance and kids bike rentals for Bike DC. Bikes are available for pick-up the day before the ride at no extra charge. Reserve online by clicking here or by calling 202-842-2453.

Bicycle pick-up times for Bike DC are Saturday, May 12th between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 13th starting at 7 a.m.

Equipment should be returned to our Downtown DC location (11th and Pennsylvania NW, by the Federal Triangle Metro station) by 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, May 13th.

Looking to finally get your own bike? On April 29th Bike and Roll will sell off adult hyrbid bikes, cruiser bikes, kids bikes, and kids tandem attachments at our annual spring sale! Come grab a 2010 Trek 7200 comfort hybrid bicycle ($240), complete with a comfortable seat, 24 gears, and thick tires built for commuting. Our beach cruisers ($140) have high handlebars, back pedal brakes, and a trendy 50's style. Kids bikes are available in both 20" ($120) and 24" ($160) wheels. Kids tandem attachments are also available for kids who aren't quite comfortable pedaling on their own ($120).

These bikes have been tuned up every few months by our capable mechanics and are in tip-top shape! First come, first serve. Cash only. 

All bike purchases come with a 10% off coupon for bike service at our Union Station location. Locks are also available for purchase ($40).

Spring is just around the corner at Bike and Roll Washington DC! This Saturday marks the beginning of our tenth season in Washington DC, and we couldn't be more excited to get going! All three locations will open for both tours and rentals starting this Saturday, March 10th. The combination of this amazing spring weather, five weeks of Cherry Blossom festivities, and two brand new tours promise to make this season the best one yet!

Our downtown location at the Old Post Office will be open for rentals from 9:00am to 6:00pm, 7 days a week. Our location in Old Town, Alexandria will stay open from 10:00am til 6:00pm during the week, then 9:00am to 6:00pm on the weekends. Union Station is opened 7 days a week, 9:00am to 6:00pm.  

Our Capital Sites tour (10:00am) and Monuments tour (2:30pm) will leave every day of the week from our downtown location, with more tours leaving from Union Station and Old Town, Alexandria. Our Blossoms by Bike tour and Blossoms by Bike River Ride will run March 21 - April 8th, taking riders down to the Tidal Basin and the heart of cherry blossoms. 

Don't forget about our Blossom Bites by Bike tour, starting March 23rd! Enjoy specially created dishes from critically acclaimed local eateries as you bicycle from one restaurant to another, touring through the Dupont Circle, U Street, and Logan Circle neighborhoods. Each tour will have a knowledgeable tour guide to share interesting facts about these historical areas while also concentrating on the unique culinary aspects of each eatery.

To top it all off, Segway tours start May 1! 

National Park Serviec chief horticulturalist Rob DeFeo announced his predictions for Peak Bloom at the National Cherry Blossom Festival press conference held yesterday at the Newseum. Though the dates are not definite, peak bloom is expected to occur between March 24th and March 31st. The blossom are considered at their peak when 70% of blossoms have appeared. The average peak bloom generally falls around April 4th, but the unseasonably warm weather is predicted to contribute to an early bloom. 

At Bike and Roll Washington DC we have adjusted our Blossoms by Bike tour dates to better coincide with the predicted bloom. Blossoms by Bike and the Blossoms by Bike River Ride Tours will now run March 20th through April 8th, with the possibility of extending depending on the bloom period. If you miss the window to jump on a blossoms tour, we are adding plenty of additional Monuments tours throughout the Cherry Blossom Festival.

After just ten days into our first season, the Bike and Roll Segway tours are collecting rave reviews! Locals and visitors alike appreciate our detailed training sessions, knowledgeable tour guides, and speedy new wheels. Tours are already filling up, so grab a spot on one of our 1:30pm or 6pm daily tours. Check availability on our Reservations page. 

"Even though I've lived in DC for a few years, we learned lots of great fun facts that I didn't know before (and even saw some things on the Capitol grounds that I didn't even know were there!)" says DC local Matthewsnn (via TripAdvisor)

"The tour guide knew tons about the city and was really patient with everyone on the segways," says Katie K (via TripAdvisor). I'll be the first to admit that I was terrified to get on a segway but it was tons of fun and great way to see the city."

Segways are coming to Bike and Roll Washington DC! Our brand new tour, Sites by Segway, brings you around the National Mall from the Capitol to WWII, including the north side of the White House, some fun off-the-Mall spots, and a ride down Pennsylvania Avenue. Tours run for approximately 2 1/2 hours (segway training included). After running bike tours for the past 10 years, we are confident our experienced guides will provide the best segway tours around. Educational and fun, our Segway tours are yet another way to see the sites of the National Mall on two wheels! 

Starting on May 4th, Sites by Segway will start at our downtown location at the Old Post Office, departing at 1:30pm and 6:00pm everyday.  We can accommodate groups up to 8 people. Must be at least 16 years old to participate. For more information please call our downtown location at 202-842-2453. ($59/person)

Reserve Here!

In honor of International Cultural Awareness Month and Passport DC, Bike and Roll Washington DC and DC Metro Food Tours bring you International Bites by Bike! Similar to our Blossoms Bites by Bike tour, this biking and food tour visits three of DC's most historic neighborhoods. Enjoy specially created international dishes from critically acclaimed local eateries as you pedal from one restaurant to another in the Logan Circle, U Street, and Dupont Circle neighborhoods. Each tour will have a knowledgeable tour guide to share interesting facts about these historical areas, point out the various embassies along the way, and elaborate on the unique culinary aspects of each eatery.

Tours depart from our downtown DC location on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 4pm to 7pm. Recommended for riders age 12 and up ($89/person, includes bike rental, guide, and food). 

In it's 5th year running, Passport DC has already become renowned itnernationally for its exciting embassy events, open houses, festivals and performances which continue throughout the month of May. We recommend you rent a bike to get around to the 40 embassies hosting open houses on May 5th!  

Reserve today!

Bike and Roll Washington DC and Virtue Feed & Grain have partnered to bring you the perfect supplement to our Bike and Boat to Mount Vernon package-- A picnic by the Potomac! Enjoy the Ploughman's Lunch picnic anywhere you'd like along the Mount Vernon Trail. Virtue Feed & Grain chef Chef Ryan Wheeler has packed this picnic with cured meats, cheese, mixed greens, homemade bread, fresh fruit and some special sweets (feeds two people, $32). Packaged in it's own reusable bag, the Ploughman's lunch is the perfect size to throw in a backpack or bike pannier. 

Picnic tables line the grassy banks of the Potomac between Old Town, Alexandria and The Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. Make a stop at one of the many parks, or enjoy your lunch on the grass in front of the Mount Vernon Estate. 

Picnics must be reserved by 12pm the day before you tour. To book, please call our Alexandria shop at 703-548-7655.

For the first time ever, Bike and Roll Washington DC and DC Metro Food Tours are partnering to bring you Blossom Bites by Bike, a biking food tour showcasing fantastic food in three of DC’s classic neighborhoods. Enjoy specially created dishes from critically acclaimed local eateries as you bicycle from one restaurant to another, touring through the Dupont Circle, U Street, and Logan Circle neighborhoods. Each tour will have a knowledgeable tour guide to share interesting facts about these historical areas while also concentrating on the unique culinary aspects of each eatery. We are super excited to work with DC Metro Food Tours, and intend on continuing a Bites by Bike tour throughout the 2012 season!

Blossom Bites by Bike departs from Bike and Roll’s Downtown DC location at the Old Post Office Pavilion at 4:00. This three-hour tour runs Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the festival. The tour begins and ends at the rear plaza of The Old Post Office Pavilion on 12th St. NW, between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues. (Metro: Federal Triangle).

Advance reservations are required for all Blossom Bites by Bike tours and can be made online at www.bikethesites.com or by phone at 202-683-8847. Tickets for this tour are $79 per person and include the guide, bike rental, enough food for dinner, and a bottle of water for your ride. This ride is all street riding (most of which is in bike lanes) so we do not advise children (12 and under) sign up for this tour.

Blossoms Bites by Bike is an Official Program of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The 2012 Festival, March 20 – April 27, includes daily events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit.  The 2012 Festival commemorates the 100th anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan. www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

No one knows Washington DC better then the Washington Area Concierge Association (WACA), a membership group of concierge and affiliates from the best hotels in the city. Always on the look-out for the best activities, we had the pleasure of hosting a group of WACA members who came to experience our tour for themselves. Now concierge can recommend our tours with first hand testimonials! We offer free tours to concierge throughout the year so they can learn more about Bike and Roll and brush up on their knowledge on the sites of the National Mall. 

Ask your concierge about the $5 off Guest coupons cards available in most DC hotels! 

Today at 10:00am President Obama will speak at the groundbreaking of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, set to open by November 2015. Adjacent to the Washington Monument, the new museum's mission is to interpret the complex narrative arc of the black experience in America.  The museum will be the 19th Smithsonian museum.

Other attendees will include first lady Michelle Obama, former first lady Laura Bush, Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough, and the museum's found director Lonnie G. Bunch. The event is invitation only but will be streamed live on the museum's website. 

Found on AutoblogGreen

Volkswagon of America representatives at the Washington Auto Show last Thursday announced their partnership with Colorado based People for Bikes, an organization committed to creating safe biking communities nation wide. Volkswagon's sponsorship includes financial funding as well as the donation of vehicles to support advocay programs and urban planning initiatives. 

"Volkswagen's commitment to environmental sustainability extends beyond our fuel-efficient vehicles and company practices," said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "We are extremely proud to be partnering with Bikes Belong to encourage biking and ensure that people of all ages can safely share the road, saving fuel and reducing pollution and traffic congestion."

The sponsorship is part of VW's new Think Blue Initiative, which works to promote eco-conscious behavior and green initiatives. 

Looking for a job with a laid back atmosphere, enthusiastic fellow staffers and plenty of sunshine? Bike and Roll Washington DC is hiring for this spring! We are looking for tour guides, mechanics, assistant managers, and rental staff! Please visit our Employment page for job descriptions and instructions on applying. Know someone who might be interested? Direct them here!

It's finally starting to feel like winter here in Washington DC, but that doesn't mean the end of biking! Though our downtown DC location in Federal Triangle is now closed through March, our Union Station Bikestation will be open year round, Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm (Closed December 24th to January 2). Our Old Town, Alexandria shop is also closed until spring 2012.

Thank you to everyone who came and visited us this year, we hope you enjoyed our tours and rentals as much as we liked giving them! As we put our new fleet together for the spring season, we'll be dreaming of summer bike rides as we shiver in the garage. Keep up with the latest on our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter!

-Bike and Roll Washington DC Team 2011