While the Washington metropolitan area is famous for its car-choked commutes, some people gathered in the Kingstowne area on Friday morning to prove that it's possible to bike to work.
The riders were participating in Bike-to-Work Day, an event organized locally by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections. The event promotes using bikes to commute to work. On Friday, 12,700 people were expected to participate in Bike-to-Work Day in the Washington metro area, the Washington Business Journal reports.
At a Kingstowne area rest stop on Walker Lane, near the Inova Healthplex, bikers stopped to enjoy refreshments and share stories.
"It's better than a cup of coffee," said Mike Salmon, a Virginia Department of Transportation contractor who was traveling from his home in Newington to his office building in Franconia.
"I'm not awake yet," joked another biker.
Salmon, who said he rides his bicycle to work about once a week from May to December, said that Bike-to-Work Day energizes him about biking. His commute is made easier at his office building, which offers bike parking and showers for commuters.
Dan Twomey, who was traveling from Landsdowne to his office on Backlick Road, was hoping to use Bike-to-Work Day to persuade his coworkers to bike as well.
"I think it does encourage folks to bike," Twomey said.
Twomey said that biking in the area can be difficult sometimes. The bike path from the Franconia-Springfield Metro station is littered with broken glass, making it hard for people to work both Metro and biking into their travel plans. Twomey also wishes there was a bike path on Backlick Road.
Despite these issues, Twomey gets to work most days on his bike.
"I have four kids, so I don't really have time for fitness on my own time," Twomey said.
