Montgomery County to Sponsor Eight Pit Stops During Washington Region’s Annual ‘Bike to Work Day’ on Friday, May 17

For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 4, 2024

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will sponsor eight pit stops throughout the County as part of the Washington Region’s participation in “National Bike to Work Day” on Friday, May 17. 

MCDOT will sponsor eight pit stops this year, including a new stop in Germantown at the BlackRock Center for the Arts.  

The free pit stop events offer refreshments, music and local vendor displays at varying times throughout the morning of May 17. There will be free raffle prizes and a grand prize raffle of at least one new bike at each of the MCDOT-sponsored pit stops. Residents biking to work, as well as leisure riders, are encouraged to participate.  

Registration to participate is now open.  The first 15,000 bicyclists to register and participate will get a free t-shirt and will be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a new bike. Registration is encouraged but not mandatory. 

Bike to Work Day is held annually across the nation on the third Friday of May to celebrate bicycling as a fun, healthy and climate-friendly way to get to work. 

In addition to the eight pit stops sponsored by MCDOT, there will be an additional eight Bike to Work Day pit stops at additional locations in the County operated by other organizations. 

“Biking to work or to run errands is a healthy form of transportation that also helps to get cars off the road and reduce air pollution,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “To encourage more residents to use bicycles and to help them ride safely, we continue to invest in more bike paths and dedicated bike lanes throughout the County. Currently, cyclists can extend their commuting options with a way to transport their bikes on all Ride On buses, Metrobus, Metrorail and MARC trains. You can give it a try on Bike to Work Day and learn more about biking as an alternate mode of transportation.”

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments coordinates Commuter Connections, a network of transportation organizations in which MCDOT participates. Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) are the co-organizers of Washington Region’s Bike to Work Day event. 

Participants should visit the Find Your Pit Stop Map to check pitstop locations and times and plan a route in advance. 

MCDOT-sponsored pit stops will be at the following locations: 

• Downtown Bethesda at Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues, Bethesda. 6:30-8:30m.
• Friendship Heights at the Shops at Wisconsin and Western Avenues, Chevy Chase. 6:30-9 a.m.
• Germantown, BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown, 7:30-9:30m.
• North Bethesda at Pike and Rose, west of 935 Prose Street (next to Bark Social), North Bethesda. 6:30-8:30 a.m.
• Rockville, Fallsgrove at Thomas Farm Community Center, 700 Falls Grove Drive, 6:30-9 a.m.
• Rockville Town Square at Dawson’s Market, 225 N. Washington St., 6:30-9 a.m.
• Silver Spring Downtown at Veterans Plaza, Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street, Silver Spring. 6:30-9 a.m.
• Downtown Wheaton at Marian Fryer Town Plaza (next to the Wheaton Metro), Wheaton. 7-9 a.m. 

Other pitstops within Montgomery County will include: 

• Gaithersburg-Kentlands, Main Street Pavillion, 301 Main St., Gaithersburg. 7-9 a.m.
• Gaithersburg Olde Towne Plaza (afternoon), 1 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg. 4-6 p.m.
• National Institutes of Health, Building 1, 1 Center Dr., Bethesda. 7-9:30 a.m.
• Rockville at Twinbrook, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville. 7-9 a.m.
• Takoma Park – Downtown/Old Takoma, 7216 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park. 6:30-9 a.m.
• Takoma Park – Langley Crossroads, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Takoma Park. 6:30-9 a.m.
• Takoma Park – Sligo Creek Trail, at New Hampshire Ave., Takoma Park. 7-9:30 a.m.

“This is a fun event to recognize the health and environmental benefits of biking,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “It is a great way to get exercise and meet your neighbors. The events are open to everyone, of all ages and ability, and we’re pleased to be able to add a new pit stop in Germantown this year.” 

Additional pit stops will be located throughout the Washington region. For more information and a full list of regional pitstops, or to register, visit biketoworkmetrodc.org.   

All riders are encouraged to wear a helmet.  

For more information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.  

 

Release ID: 24-046
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282