Can you believe it’s already September? For most of us, the end of summer means returning from vacations, going back to work, sending the kids off to school, and ultimately making our commutes a little bit more crowded. While we’ll miss the summer season (minus the heat and crazy weather), there are plenty of things going on this month that you can look forward to! If you’re looking for transportation and commuting events, check out this list of special dates and programs that are coming up.
There’s a handful of bike-related events this month, including the return of Two-Wheel Tuesdays with BikeArlington! Every Tuesday during September and October, there will be a 1.5 hour session that will discuss a variety of topics about biking in Arlington including bike safety tips, proper equipment and gear, as well as the best routes and directions for getting around by bike. Be sure to contact BikeArlington if you have any questions - hope to see you there on Tuesdays!
Also in connection with bike safety, next week, September 9-15, is Virginia Bike and Pedestrian Awareness week, sponsored by Drive Smart Virginia. In an effort to reduce accidents and make it safer to travel, this statewide program seeks to remind everyone to share the road, whether they are a motorist, bicyclist, or pedestrian. Check out the Drive Smart VA website for safety tips and other important information that you should know before heading out on the roads.
On September 20th, Capital Bikeshare will be 2 years old! Since launching in 2010, the nation’s largest bikeshare system has logged over 1 million trips and is consistently breaking daily and monthly ridership records. CaBi has grown tremendously in the past year, including the first new stations in Alexandria that opened last week! The system will continue to expand throughout the DC metro area, so keep an eye out for a station near you! For employers, remember that Capital Bikeshare offers discounted memberships for corporate partners, so contact ATP today to start offering this great benefit to employees.
This year, Car-Free Day is on Saturday, September 22nd. This is a great opportunity to leave your car at home, and use transit, biking, or walking to get around. While you may already use these modes to get to work during the week, how about riding your bike to run weekend errands? Or take the bus to meet up with friends? Take advantage of Car-Free Day and see what it’s like to go car-free or car-lite for the day (or week, or month!). Take the pledge today and be entered to win cool prizes such as an iPad or bicycle! And to give you a little inspiration for getting around without a car, check out ATP’s new video series “Choose Your Own Commute Adventure” – the first episode is now on YouTube!
Finally, September is National Preparedness Month, and Arlington is encouraging all residents and employees to have plans in place in case of an emergency. In light of recent weather events (blizzards, hurricanes, derechos) that have caused havoc on the roa
dways and resulted in brutal commutes home for employees, ATP has put together a new program for Arlington County employers, called Prepare Your Commute. On September 24th and October 2nd, ATP is hosting two seminars on emergency preparedness for employers and residential properties. These sessions are an opportunity to learn more about transportation alternatives and the different options available for companies to help reduce stress on employees while ensuring their business will still run smoothly. Contact ATP today to RSVP and reserve your spot at one of these events!
As always, feel free to contact ATP with any questions about the above programs or dates. Hope to see you out at some of these events this month!