Bike the Sites Blog

Town officials voted unanimously last night to install Capital Bikeshare stations in the Old Town and Carlyle neighborhoods of Alexandria, VA. This means some of the busiest downtown areas will get a bike-friendly facelift, giving bikes more space on the roads and as well as awareness in the community. We think Capital Bikeshare bikes are perfect for pedaling around downtown. With the first 30 minutes free, it will be easy to roll from one end of King Street to the other.

Interested in getting out of town and hitting the trail? Our Trek bikes were built with you in mind. Our quality hybrids and road bikes are perfect for the Mount Vernon trail. Our pricing is the best deal for longer rides, and all rentals come with a helmet, lock, flat kit and map. Our variety of equipment, including kids trailers and tandems, will fit all ages and sizes.

So this isn't exactly a situation we have to worry about here in Washington DC, (African antelope tend to leave tourists alone) but it just goes to show you never know! We especially enjoyed the slow motion sequence towards the end.

This month Bike and Roll Washington DC hosted Destination DC's Business Exchange, where Destination DC members can come and experience first hand the many destinations DC has to offer. After setting everyone up on bikes in the Old Post Office PAvilion courtyard, we were ready to go! The sun was just starting to set on the first beautiful fall day as we rode over the National Mall, around the base of the Washington monument, past World War II, and onto the memorial grounds. Below, Bike and Roll owner Stephen Marks gives some historical background on the memorial as the sun sets over the tidal basin.

We finished up the evening at PJ Clark's with some fall brews and delicious appetizers. What a perfect October outing! Come back and visit again soon!

This week, a crowd watched as four engineers repelled off the top of the 555-foot Washington monument in order to assess the damage from the August 23rd 5.8 earthquake. The extent of the damage remains unknown, though visible cracks along the top of the obelisk have warranted serious assessment. The four engineers climbed out of the windows in the top of the monument in order to test for chips and cracks. Armed with digital camera, iPads and soft-headed mallets, the engineers may continue through the week.

The monument is closed indefinitely until experts and engineers can fix the damage, however the monument is still a spot on our Monuments and Monuments@Nite tour! Come learn about the history of the monument from our friendly tour guides and enjoy the splendor of the monument lit up at night.

Special thanks to CBS News

Museums around the country will participate in this year's annual Museum Day, organized by Smithsonian magazine. Participating museums across the country are offering free admission for one person plus a guest on Saturday, September 24th. Though many of DC's museums are already free, take advantage of this offer to visit the Phillips Collection, Dumbarton Oaks Museum, or the Corcoran Gallery of Art (which usually charge entry fees).

To get your free ticket, register on Smithsonianmag.com. Choose one of the hundreds of museums that are participating, and Smithsonian will email you your ticket (good for one participant and one guest per household).

Since many museums in DC are already free, come grab a Bike and Roll bike and hop easily from museum to museum for an afternoon of cheap fun!

After an explosive and successful year in existence, it looks like Capital Bikeshare is here to stay. One year after it's installation in the fall of 2010, Capital Bikeshare has grown to over 17,000 members, with 4,000 trips logged on average everyday. 32 additional stations will be built this fall, with plans to eventually extend into Rosslyn and Arlington. Just in time for their anniversary, Cabi logged it's millionth ride, a capstone to a record breaking year.

In addition to providing a healthy and green transportation alternative, Cabi is extending it's services to aid those struggling with mental illness. The program will provide 20 patients with a Capital Bikeshare membership, and will track to see whether cycling improves their physical and mental health.

Join Cabi's birthday bash tonight (Thursday, September 22nd) in Yard's Park from 6pm to 9pm, where guests will enjoy free cupcakes, live music, moon bounces, giveaways, and a Bikeshare corral.

Time is a tickin' if you're looking to join the annual WABA 50 States ride on Saturday, September 24th. This sometimes "brutal," sometimes "amazing" ride visits all of the state-named streets in the District, covering over 60 miles of road.

For riders looking for a more leisurely Saturday, we suggest the 13 Colonies ride, a 15-mile long ride covering (you guessed it) the roads named after the original 13 colonies.  WABA members receive a discounted entry fee.

Coming from out of town and need a bike, or worried your bike won't cut it? Come rent a roadbike from Bike and Roll and we will wave the overnight fee!

Good luck riders!

The National Park Service is joining forces with GoDCGo, DDOT, and the Metropolitan Police Department for the third year in a row to bring us Feet in the Street, an all day event promoting outdoor activities in one of the District's largest parks. The streets surrounding Fort Dupont Park will be closed from 9:00am to 3:00pm on October 15th, making it safe for kids and adults alike to bring out their bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, hiking boots and running shoes to enjoy fall in DC.

Bike and Roll will provide free bike rentals for adults and kids who want to go for a spin! No reservations required, just come find us in the park and we will set you up on one of our Trek bikes. Cruise down Fort Dupont Drive without worrying about dodging traffic.

For more information, visit GoDCGo.com and keep an eye on our Twitter @BikeandRollDC for updates!

Due to recent rains and predicted flooding, the C&O Canal Trust is doing it's part to preserve the popular C&O Canal Towpath by organizing volunteers to help sandbag the area. A popular spot for Bike and Rollers, the towpath stretchs for 184 miles, starting from downtown Washington DC all the way to Cumberland, Maryland.

Currently, the towpath, visitor center and all lockhouses are closed. On Thursday, September 8th, the C&O Canal Trust will be leading a group of volunteers to help sandbag the area and prepare for further flooding. For those available to help, volunteers will meet at tomorrow at Lockhouse 6 at 1:00. For further information, please call the Canal Trust at #301-714-2233.

Thanks to NPCA.org

No longer able to resist the beautiful weather, the Bike and Roll marketing department decided last week that we were due for an adventure. Knowing there is no better adventure than Bike and Roll's Bike and Boat to Mount Vernon package, we packed our bags and headed to Old Town, VA. After renting our bikes from Bike and Roll's Alexandria location, we hopped onto the Mount Vernon Trail and pedaled the 8 mile stretch down to the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. Stopping occasionally to snap some photos and enjoy views of the Potomac River, we made it to Mount Vernon just in time for lunch. 

After a leisurely lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, we spent four hours at Mount Vernon touring the mansion, meandering through the gardens, chasing butterflies, and making friends with various mules and sheep. The farm at Mount Vernon is a working farm, filled with veggies and an old-time gristmill. 

Ready to be off our feet, we walked to the harbor where we watched the Potomac River Boat's Miss Christin pull into the dock. The friendly crew pointed out the sites along the way, including Fort Washington, Jones Point Lighthouse, National Harbor and the DC skyline. 

It's back to the office for us! Counting down the days til our next Bike and Roll adventure. To see more photos of Bike and Boat, please visit our Facebook page.

The town of Herndon, VA in Fairfax County is planning ahead for a major bike-friendly revamp to the south side of the city. Residents and city planners are hoping to use the new Herndon-Monroe Metro Station, estimated to be finished by 2016, as a stepping stone to create a more bike and pedestrian friendly downtown. Ultimately, town planners are looking to transform Herndon into a dense, urban environment with a downtown filled with shops and restaurants.

The idea of a two-way cycle track, with trees and plants buffering cyclists from the road, has been proposed by residents who are uncomfortable biking on the street. The Planning Commission will hold public hearings starting in October. The Washington and Old Dominion Trail, a popular bicycle and recreation trail starting in Arlington and ending in Purceville, runs directly through Herndon.

On August 28th Washington DC will be flooded with visitors from across the country who have come for the grand opening of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The city is expecting between 250-400,000 visitors to the city that weekend. Sunday's opening will also be the 48th anniversary of King's timeless "I Have a Dream" speech. Located directly between Lincoln and Jefferson in West Potomac Park, the spectacular memorial is inspired by King's famous line "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." Visitors will walk through the split Mountain of Despair, into a courtyard facing the Stone of Hope, a 28-foot tall statue of King. This image of King was carved from memory by Chinese master sculptor Lei Yixin. One hundred and eighty two cherry blossom trees will fill the courtyard of the memorial, and will appropriately bloom in April, the same time as King's assassination.

Bike and Roll will be adding the MLK Jr. Memorial to our Monuments and Monuments @ Nite bike tours starting end of summer 2011. Keep an eye on our blog for more details! 

Marks Family in Alexandria, VA 2009

Many people love their jobs, but I find mine to be exceptionally great. It feels good to know that I can provide a healthy, green way to see the city that I love. I am blessed in many ways by this opportunity to operate Bike and Roll Washington DC. A close friend of mine started Bike the Sites in 1997. When I took over in 2003 we opened at our original location at the Old Post Office Pavilion and added rentals to our product lineup. There were 50 bikes in the fleet that first year and now we boast well over 600 pieces of equipment, all spread between three locations and one hotel. We have amazing returning staff and customers every year. It has been quite a ride.

I am lucky enough to have three generations of family members involved in the business including my sister Nikki, my wife Janna, our two sons Eli and Noah, and my father, Robert. Our pooch Izzy is always happy to come and observe and shake her tail at customers. Having lived in the DC area my whole life, I’ve come to believe that Washington DC is one of the greatest cities to bike in.

I invite you to come take advantage of our great city by bike, the greenest and fastest way to see our nation’s capital. Come bike the sites!

Sincerely,

Stephen Marks

Bike and Roll, Managing Partner

Photo by Walter Woodward

Newly expanded to include ten days of carbon-free fun, Cultural Tourism DC’s BikingTown DC and WalkingTown DC will offer over 100 tours to visitors and locals alike. Bike and Roll bike tours are of course included on the list!  We will offer a handful of free bike tours between September 23 and October 2, as well as discounted rentals for additional Cultural Tourism DC bike tours that will be offered throughout the week. All tours are free, though some require reservations.

To reserve your spot on a free Bike and Roll tour, keep an eye on the CTDC website where a full list of tours will be available in August 2011. Bikingtown and WalkingTown tours will guide groups through all eight wards on the city, highlighting DC’s unique arts, culture and heritage. In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, historic Civil War tours of DC will also be offered.

As of this month, Boston is now home the New Balance Hubways, with 61 bike sharing stations and 600 bicycles. The city’s reputation for rude and pushy drivers has made some cyclists wary, but even the mayor has high hopes, proclaiming at its launch that “the car is no longer king.”

Public bike sharing systems are popping up all over the country. Denver is expanding its B-cycle program, Boston has been all a buzz, and now San Francisco is following suit. Denver launched its first bike share program last year, selling over 1,700 annual memberships and 103,000 rides. The mile high city is now proposing to expand the project to run year round as well as triple the number of stations. Last but not least the SFMTA is planning a partnership with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to put together 50 bike share stations with 500 bikes for spring of 2012.

We are stoked that bikeshare fever is spreading. This means more promotion for biking in general, which will lead to safer streets, fewer gas emissions, and most importantly, more people taking bike tours!

What do you think? Which city will be next?

Is the humidity ceamping your vacation? Bike and Roll has plenty of suggestions on how to enjoy the sites of Washington without melting. Walking from site to site is guaranteed to be hot and sticky, but cruising around on a bike is a breeze! In addition to our popular Sites @ Nite tours we can suggest:

1. Starting early – Grab a bike for just two hours, you can cover most of the area and major spots. Maps, helmets and friendly staffers to assist you and get you on your way early.

2. Renting at night – Pick up a bike as late as 8:45PM – we'll provide lights and locks. Return them in the morning or at your leisure during the day.

3. Looking for a cooler riding? Try the canal or Rock Creek Park. Use one of our comfort hybrids or take it up a notch and try out a performance or road model.

4. Wondering which of our day time tours is cooler? Try our 9:30 AM Monuments tour. There are lots of shady stopping points, knowledgeable and entertaining guides and done by lunch time.

5. We are experts at taking advantage of the shade; on very hot days guides take breaks in the shade and are knowledgeable about avoiding long stretches of non-shaded areas.

But don't take our word for it, read some reviews on TripAdvisor from customer's who've taken our tours this summer:
"We visited DC in the hottest week of the year! The temps were over 100 every day of our visit. Because our feet and legs were so sore from walking everywhere and it was so miserably hot, we almost cancelled our bike ride. That would have been a huge mistake...The nice breeze from riding felt like heaven." - BJGtravelBug (July 2011)

"The guides are young, friendly and very knowledgeable -- telling interesting, little known stories about each site. There is plenty of time for photos -- the pace is easy and relaxing. Both times we have taken the tour at night when it is cooler and the monuments are lit. I highly recommend this tour for young and old alike." - Mammak100 (July 2011)

Sometimes it feels like the bicycle boom is a recent trend, but a recent article on Smithsonian.com bullets many exhibits around the city where you can get your historic-bicycling fix. Look, it’s our penny farthing!

The List: Tour de Smithsonian - Historical Bicycles Worthy of Display

On September 22, 2011, metro DC will be innundated with alternative transportation due to annual Car Free DC Day. Committed commuters pledge to not use their cars for one full day in order to combat traffic congestion, to promote a greener environment, and reduce gasoline demand. This international event will take place in 1,500 different cities in 40 different countries. Participants pledge to travel by train, bus, bicycle, carpool, subway, vanpool, walk or telework. Participants are automatically entered in a drawing to receive amazing prizes like a new bicycle or an Apple iPad.

Already a green traveler? You can still sign the pledge and participate in the drawing. Commuters can even get away with going “car-lite” by carpooling, but we of course suggest taking a bike!  Bike and Roll is giving away free comfort hybrid rentals for Car Free DC. To make a reservation, please call our downtown office at #202-842-2453 (free reservations cannot be made online).

For more information, please visit http://www.carfreemetrodc.com/index.php

DC’s Nation’s Triathlon to Benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has been described as the best mid-Atlantic triathlon and named one of the top ten best urban triathlons. Now in its sixth year, the race has raised over $8.4 million dollars to go towards research, patient education and support for those suffering from leukemia and other blood-related cancers. This year’s race will kick off at 7:00 on Sunday, September 11 from West Potomac Park.

Participants will swim 1.5K, bike 40K, and run a 10K, starting in the Potomac River and ending with the Finish Line Festival. We hear the bike loop will be flat and fast, winding past the Potomac River, the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the Kennedy Center, and over the Memorial Bridge.  Streets will be entirely blocked off, so cyclists will have two lanes of traffic all to themselves.
Bike and Roll will be offering discounted road bike rentals ($75 for a two day rental) to all participants.  Both the Gary Fischer Rail and Trek 1.2 will be available. To reserve a bike, please call our downtown location at #202-842-2453.