100+ Cyclists Expected at City Hall for Bike to Work Day

Friday morning, more than 100 cyclists are expected to pedal their way to to celebrate two-wheel commuting with refreshments, camaraderie, and for some, a group ride into Washington, D.C.

Senior Planner Elisa Vitale estimates that participation in the city’s annual Bike to Work Day pit stop has tripled over seven years from about 50 to 150—evidence, she thinks, that bicycling to work is a growing trend.

“I think biking is getting more popular, and you see it in the news more, and [with] the cost of gas … I think more and more people are looking at cycling as an option,” she said.

She might be right. U.S. Census Bureau statistics show a 40 percent growth between 2000 and 2010 in the percentage of American workers who use a bicycle as their primary way to get to their jobs. Still, that equals less than .6 percent of American workers, according to the League of American Bicyclists.

Assistant Manager of Robert Gray said that he’s also noticed the growing trend. He said college towns like College Park tend to be popular cycling areas, though not everyone opts for a bike by choice.

“As gas prices go up, or some people lose their cars, some people come in and say, ‘I need to bike now,’” he said.

Bike to Work Day is a national event, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. All of May is Bike Month, and in College Park this year, that’s meant new opportunities for cyclists:

• On facility at the College Park Metro station. The bicycle parking facility is an enclosed structure with space to lock up more than 100 bikes, according to WMATA's website.
• May also kicked off with the announcement of a . Riders will be able to rent a solar-powered bike from one of eight stations in College Park and return it to another station. It will be a part of the network of stations already in Washington, D.C. and Arlington.

Commuters rolling in to City Hall on Friday, between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m., will be able to enjoy bagels, coffee and fruit from and , two sponsors for the event. will provide bike tune-ups on site.

The Anacostia Trails Heritage Area is providing a Trek 7000 bike from to be raffled off, one of several prizes that will be given out that morning. Participants will also receive T-shirts, provided by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and the transportation organization network Commuter Connections.

The pit stop is a joint project between the city and the , which will operate a bikeUMD table, providing maps, biking info and swag.

College Park is just one of 58 pits stops planned. Area cyclists can visit more than one, as pit stops are also scheduled at the Greenbelt Aquatic and Fitness Center in Greenbelt and Magruder Park in Hyattsville.

The map of all pit stops in the region accompanies this post.

Vitale said that a band of riders will leave at 6:30 a.m. from the in Greenbelt, head to City Hall in College Park before leaving at about 7:30 a.m. for a group ride to Washington, D.C.

“That’s a good opportunity for people who have not commuted, to ride into D.C.,” Vitale said.

Those who plan to participate should register here.

Here are some other stories you might find interesting:

• Last year, Patch blogger Jeff Lemeiux strapped a camera to his bike and recorded his commute from College Park to Washington, D.C., .
• that could be introduced in College Park by this time next year.
• Patch editor Shannon Hoffman rode along with a convoy of cyclists for the Ride on Washington, to learn more about the cyclists' mission to make communities more bike friendly. .